Non-dehiscent sesame IND variety Sesaco 33

ABSTRACT

Non-dehiscent sesame ( Sesamum indicum  L.) (IND) designated Sesaco 33 (S33) is herein disclosed. Its degree of shatter resistance, or seed retention, makes S33 suitable for mechanized harvesting and for selection for sesame crop growth in certain geographical locations, particularly where lodging is a high risk factor.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a new Sesamum indicum L. variety with improved non-dehiscence (IND) appropriate for mechanized harvesting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sesame, or Sesamum indicum, is a tropical annual cultivated worldwide for its oil and its nut flavored seeds. The sesame plant grows to a height of about 52-249 cm, and at its leaf axils are found capsules which contain the sesame seed. Upon maturity in nature, the capsules holding the sesame seeds begin to dry down, the capsules normally split open, and the seeds fall out. Commercially, the harvester tries to recover as much seed as possible from mature capsules. From ancient times through the present, the opening of the capsule has been the major factor in attempting to successfully collect the seed. Harvesting methods, weather, and plant characteristics all contribute to the amount of seed recovered.

The majority of the world's sesame is harvested manually. With manual non-mechanized methods, it is desirable for the sesame seed to fall readily from the plant. Manual harvesting is labor intensive. Efforts to mechanize or partially mechanize harvesting met with limited success.

A breakthrough was accomplished when non-dehiscent (ND) sesame was developed and patented by Derald Ray Langham. ND sesame was found to possess the proper characteristics which would enable mechanical harvesting without the seed loss disadvantages reported with prior varieties.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,100,452; 6,815,576; 6,781,031; 7,148,403; and 7,332,652 each disclose and claim non-dehiscent (ND) sesame cultivars having various characteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A new sesame variety designated Sesaco 33 (S33) with representative seed having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591.

In one aspect, the invention comprises a seed of sesame variety designated S33, a sample of said seed having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591.

In another aspect, the invention comprises a sesame plant produced by growing the seed of sesame variety S33, a sample of said seed having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591.

In yet another aspect, the invention comprises plant cells derived from a sesame plant, said plant produced by growing the seed of sesame variety S33, a sample of said seed having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591. The plant cells may be selected, for example, from pollen, tissue culture of regenerable cells, and asexually reproducing cultivars.

In yet another aspect, the invention comprises a sesame plant having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of sesame variety S33, a sample of the seed of said variety having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591.

In another aspect, the invention comprises a sesame plant regenerated from a tissue culture of regenerable cells produced from plant cells derived from sesame variety S33, a sample of said seed having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591, wherein said regenerated sesame plant has all the physiological and morphological characteristics of said sesame variety S33. The plant cells may be derived from S33 seeds or plant cells from tissue from a sesame plant produced by growing the seed of sesame variety S33.

In another aspect, the invention comprises a method of producing sesame seed, comprising crossing a first parent sesame plant with a second parent sesame plant and harvesting the resultant sesame seed, wherein said first or second parent sesame plant was produced by growing seed of sesame variety S33, a sample of said seed having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the lineage of S33.

FIG. 2 through FIG. 8 compare Sesaco 33 (S33) to the Sesaco varieties: Sesaco 25 (S25), Sesaco 26 (S26), Sesaco 27 (S27), Sesaco 28 (S28), Sesaco 29 (S29), Sesaco 30 (S30), and Sesaco 32 (S32).

FIG. 2 depicts a comparison of the percent of seed retention during Shaker Shatter Resistance testing from 1997 to 2010.

FIG. 3 depicts a comparison of the mean improved non-dehiscent visual rating in Uvalde, Tex., and Lorenzo, Tex., in 2010.

FIG. 4 depicts a comparison of the composite kill resistance ratings in Uvalde, Tex., in 2010.

FIG. 5 depicts a comparison of the mean days to physiological maturity in Uvalde, Tex., in 2010.

FIG. 6 depicts a comparison of the yield at drydown in Uvalde, Tex., in 2010.

FIG. 7 depicts a comparison of the lodging resistance rating in Uvalde, Tex., and Lorenzo, Tex., in 2007.

FIG. 8 depicts a comparison of the mean weight of 100 seeds in grams from 1997 to 2010.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Herein disclosed is a sesame variety designated Sesaco 33 (S33), which exhibits Improved Non-Dehiscence (IND) and novel characteristics. S33 has better shatter resistance and has better lodging resistance than heretofore described ND and IND sesame varieties leading to less seed loss when left in the field past prime harvest time in adverse weather conditions to include rain, fog, dew, and wind. S33 is suitable for mechanical harvesting.

The Improved Non-Dehiscent (IND) class of sesame, developed by Derald Ray Langham, exhibits (through increased constriction) better adhesion between false membranes, improved placenta attachment, and holds more seed than prior sesame types, as measured four weeks after a crop is ready for harvest (could have been combined). IND characteristics offer advantages for certain growing applications.

Sesame cultivar S33 is a variety which exhibits Improved Non-Dehiscence (IND) characteristics and desirable characteristics which make it a commercially suitable sesame line. IND characteristics are defined in comparison to non-dehiscence (ND) characteristics first described and defined by the inventor in U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,452. Compared to ND sesame, IND sesame has more seed in the capsules when measured between 4 and 9 weeks after the ideal harvest time.

Without wishing to be bound by one particular theory, it is believed that this increased amount of seed in the capsules may be due to the S33 variety having the ability to better withstand adverse environmental conditions such as inclement or harsh weather. Examples of adverse weather conditions to which S33 has been subjected in this regard are rain, fog, dew, and wind. S33 variety has been tested and meets the criteria of IND.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/041,257, filed Mar. 3, 2008 is herein incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. This application discloses Improved Non-Dehiscent Sesame. S33 is an example of a variety which resulted from breeding methods described therein.

S33 exhibits improved shatter resistance, acceptable resistance to common fungal diseases, and a maturity that allows a wide geographical range. Further, S33 exhibits higher yield in geographical locations desirable for sesame planting, and exhibits desirable seed size and seed color. S33 is suitable for planting in areas that have approximately a 21° C. ground temperature when planted in the spring and night temperatures above 5° C. for normal termination. An exemplary desirable geographical area for S33 is from South Texas at the Rio Grande to Central Kansas and from east Texas westward to elevations below 1,000 meters. Other exemplary areas are areas of the United States or of the world which areas have similar climatic conditions and elevations.

In describing the present invention, it is helpful to be aware of some terminology. Sesame plants have been studied for their response to seasonal and climatic changes and the environment in which they live during the different phases and stages of growth and development. This type of study, called “phenology” has been documented by the inventor in Langham, D. R. 2007. “Phenology of sesame,” In: J. Janick and A. Whipkey (ed.), Issues in New Crops and New Uses, ASHS Press, Alexandria, Va.

Table I summarizes the phases and stages of sesame, and will be useful in describing the present invention.

TABLE I Phases and stages of sesame No. Stage/Phase Abbreviation End point of stage DAP^(Z) weeks Vegetative VG Germination GR Emergence 0-5 1− Seedling SD 3^(rd) pair true leaf  6-25 3− length = 2nd Juvenile JV First buds 26-37 1+ Pre-reproductive PP 50% open flowers 38-44 1− Reproductive RP Early bloom EB 5 node pairs of 45-52 1   capsules Mid bloom MB Branches/minor plants 53-81 4   stop flowering Late bloom LB 90% of plants with no 82-90 1+ open flowers Ripening RI Physiological maturity  91-106 2+ (PM) Drying DR Full maturity FM All seed mature 107-112 1− Initial drydown ID 1^(st) dry capsules 113-126 2   Late drydown LD Full drydown 127-146 3   Z DAP = days after planting. These numbers are based on S26 in 2004 Uvalde, Texas, under irrigation.

There are several concepts and terms that are used in this document that should be defined. In the initial drydown stage in Table I, the capsules begin to dry and open. This stage ends when 10% of the plants have one or more dry capsules. The late drydown stage ends when the plants are dry enough so that upon harvest, the seed has a moisture content of 6% or less. At this point some of the capsules have been dry for 5 weeks in the example used in Table I, but in other environments for other varieties, the drying can stretch to 7 weeks. The “ideal harvest time” is at the end of the late drying stage. At this point, a combine (also sometimes referred to as a combine harvester, a machine that combines the tasks of harvesting, threshing, and cleaning grain crops) can be used to cut and thresh the plants and separate the seed from the undesired plant material. However, at times, weather may prevent harvest at the ideal time. The plants may have to remain in the field for as much as an additional four weeks, and in some cases even longer. Thus, time t₀ corresponds to the ideal harvest time and time t₁, which corresponds to the time the grower actually harvests the sesame, is a time later than time t₀.

The pedigree method of plant breeding was used to develop S33. Sesame is generally self-pollinated. Crossing is done using standard techniques as delineated in Yermanos, D. M. 1980. “Sesame. Hybridization of crop plants,” Am Soc. Agronomy—Crop Sci. of America, pp. 549-563 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,452. Ashri provides an overview of sesame breeding in Ashri, A. (1998). “Sesame breeding,” Plant Breed. Rev. 16:179-228 and Ashri, A. 2007. Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). In: R. J. Singh, Ed., Genetic Resources, Chromosome Engineering, and Crop Improvement, Vol. 4, Oilseed Crops, p. 231-289, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla., USA

The lineage of S33 is presented in FIG. 1. G8 (1) was a line obtained from D. G. Langham in 1977 and first planted by Sesaco in the Kamman nursery (Wellton, Ariz.) in 1978. It was a selection from the cultivar ‘Guacara’ which D. G. Langham developed in Venezuela in the 1950s. Guacara was an initial selection from a cross that later produced one of the major varieties in Venezuela—Aceitera. Within Sesaco, G8 first carried the identifier X011 and was later changed to TG8.

111 (2) was a line obtained from the NPGS (PI173955) in 1979 and first planted by Sesaco in the Woods nursery (Wellton, Ariz.) in 1981. NPGS obtained it in 1949 from W. N. Koelz, USDA, Beltsville, Md., who obtained it from India. Within Sesaco, 111 first carried the identifier 0858 and was then changed to X111. In 1985, a selection of this line became Sesaco 4 (S04).

191 (3) was a selection from 192 which was a line obtained from the M. L. Kinman in 1980 and first planted by Sesaco in the Woods nursery (Wellton, Ariz.) in 1981. The line was originally T61429-B-4-1-3 from the Kinman USDA sesame program, College Station, Tex., which had been in cold storage at Ft. Collins, Colo. In 1997, the line was transferred to the NPGS, Griffin, Ga. and given the identifier PI599462. Within Sesaco, 192 first carried the identifier 1479 and then was changed to X191 and X193. In 1985, a selection from X193 became Sesaco 3 (S03) and a selection of X191 became Sesaco 7 (S07).

MEL(4) was a line obtained from Mel Tiezen in 1978 and first planted by Sesaco in the Kamman nursery (Wellton, Ariz.) in 1978. Mr. Tiezen obtained it from a farmer in Mexico. Within Sesaco, MEL first carried the identifier 0543 and was then changed to TMEL.

G54 (5) was a line obtained from the Sesamum Foundation (D. G. Langham, Fallbrook, Calif.) in 1977 and first planted in the Kamman nursery (Wellton, Ariz.) in 1978. It was obtained with the designator SF408. The Sesamum Foundation obtained it from John Martin in 1962. This line was given to Mr. Martin by D. G. Langham. G54 was a selection from G53.48, a cross made by D. G. Langham in 1954 in Guacara, Venezuela. Within Sesaco, G54 carried the identifier 0408 and was then changed to TG54.

193 (6) was a selection from 192 which was a line obtained from the M. L. Kinman in 1980 and first planted by Sesaco in the Woods nursery (Wellton, Ariz.) in 1981. The line was originally T61429-B-4-1-3 from the Kinman USDA sesame program, College Station, Tex., which had been in cold storage at Ft. Collins, Colo. In 1997, the line was transferred to the NPGS, Griffin, Ga. and given the identifier PI599462. Within Sesaco, 192 first carried the identifier 1479 and then was changed to X191 (single capsule) and X193 (triple capsule). In 1985, a selection from X193 became Sesaco 3 (S03) and a selection of X191 became Sesaco 7 (S07).

104 (7) was a line obtained from the Sesamum Foundation (D. G. Langham, Fallbrook, Calif.) in 1977 and first planted in the Kamman nursery (Wellton, Ariz.) in 1978. It was obtained with the designator SF084. The Sesamum Foundation obtained it from Maximo Rodriguez in 1961. He had collected it from Mexico where it was known as Instituto 8. Instituto 8 was a selection from G53.48, a cross made by D. G. Langham in 1953 in Guacara, Venezuela. Within Sesaco, 104 carried the identifier 0084. In 1983, a selection of this line became Sesaco 2 (S02).

192 (8) was a line obtained from the M. L. Kinman in 1980 and first planted by Sesaco in the Woods nursery (Wellton, Ariz.) in 1981. The line was originally T61429-B-4-1-3 from the Kinman USDA sesame program, College Station, Tex., which had been in cold storage at Ft. Collins, Colo. In 1997, the line was transferred to the NPGS, Griffin, Ga. and given the identifier PI599462. Within Sesaco, 192 first carried the identifier 1479 and then was changed to X191 and X193. In 1985, a selection from X193 became Sesaco 3 (S03) and a selection of X191 became Sesaco 7 (S07).

118 (9) was a line obtained from the NGPS (PI425944) in 1979 and first planted in Kamman nursery (Wellton, Ariz.) in 1979. The NGPS obtained it in 1978 from P. F. Knowles, University of California, Davis, Calif., who collected it in Pakistan. Within Sesaco, it carried the identifier 1118 which was changed to X118 and then to T118.

700 (10) was a line obtained from the NPGS (PI292144) in 1979 and first planted by Sesaco in the Woods nursery (Wellton, Ariz.) in 1981. NPGS obtained it in 1963 from Hybritech Seed International, a unit of Monsanto, U.S., which obtained it from Israel. In viewing this material in 1986, A. Ashri of Israel concluded that it was an introduction to Israel. The material is similar to introductions from India and Pakistan. Within Sesaco, 700 first carried the identifier 0700 and was later changed to T700.

702 (11) was a line obtained from the NGPS (PI292146) in 1979 and first planted in Woods nursery (Wellton, Ariz.) in 1981. The NGPS obtained it in 1963 from Hybritech Seed International, a unit of Monsanto, U.S., which obtained it from Israel. In viewing this material in 1986, A. Ashri of Israel concluded that it was an introduction to Israel. The material is similar to introductions from the Indian subcontinent. Within Sesaco, it has carried the identifier 0702 and then changed to X702 and then to X702C. In 1986, a selection from X702C became Sesaco 12 (S12).

111X (12) was an outcross in the 111 (2) plot BT0458 in the Nickerson nursery (Yuma, Ariz.) in 1982. Within Sesaco, it carried the identifier E0745 and was later changed to T111X.

96B (13) was an outcross in the 191 (3) in plot 4637 in the McElhaney nursery (Wellton, Ariz.) in 1983. Within Sesaco, it carried the identifier E0690 which later became X196B and was later changed to T96B.

B043 (14) was a cross made by Sesaco between G8 (1) and MEL(4) in the Kamman nursery (Yuma, Ariz.) in 1978. Within Sesaco, it carried the identifier B043.

F853 (15) was a cross made by Sesaco between 104 (15) and 192 (8) in the Nickerson nursery (Yuma, Ariz.) in 1982. Within Sesaco, it carried the identifier F853.

F822 (16) was a cross made by Sesaco between 111 (2) and 192 (8) in the Nickerson nursery (Yuma, Ariz.) in 1982. Within Sesaco, it carried the identifier F822.

804 (17) was a cross made by Sesaco between G8 (1) and 111X (12) in the Nickerson nursery (Yuma, Ariz.) in 1982. Within Sesaco, it has carried the identifier F804; in 1988, a selection of this line became Sesaco 11 (S11).

S11(18) was a cross made by Sesaco between G8 (1) and 111X (12) in the Nickerson nursery (Yuma, Ariz.) in 1982. Within Sesaco, it has carried the identifier F804; in 1988, a selection of this line became Sesaco 11 (S11).

C063 (19) was a cross made by Sesaco between B043 (14) and G54 (5) in the Kamman nursery (Yuma, Ariz.) in 1979. Within Sesaco, it carried the identifier C063.

F820 (20) was a cross made by Sesaco between 111X (12) and 104 (7) in the Nickerson nursery (Yuma, Ariz.) in 1982. Within Sesaco, it carried the identifier F820.

562 (21) was a cross made by Sesaco between F822 (16) and 700 (10) in the McElhaney nursery (Wellton, Ariz.) in 1983. Within Sesaco, it first carried the identifier G8562 and was later changed to T562.

K0338 (22) was a cross made by Sesaco between 804 (17) and 96B (13) in the Hancock nursery (Wellton, Ariz.) in 1986. Within Sesaco, it carried the identifier K0338.

233 (23) was a cross made by Sesaco between C063 (19) and 193 (6) in the Hancock nursery (Wellton, Ariz.) in 1984. Within Sesaco, it first carried the identifier H6233 and was later changed to T233.

578 (24) was a cross made by Sesaco between F820 (20) and F853 (15) in the McElhaney nursery (Wellton, Ariz.) in 1983. Within Sesaco, it first carried the identifier G8578 and was later changed to T578.

56B (25) was a cross made by Sesaco between 804 (17) and 562 (21) in the Wright nursery (Tacna, Ariz.) in 1987. Within Sesaco, it first carried the identifier KAN00 and was later changed to X56B and then to T56B.

L6651 (26) was a cross made by Sesaco between 72C (11) and 804 (17) in the Wright nursery (Tacna, Ariz.) in 1987. Within Sesaco, it carried the identifier L6651.

ZSA (27) was a cross made by Sesaco between K0338 (22) and S11 (18) in the Yuma greenhouse (Yuma, Ariz.) in 1986. Within Sesaco, it first carried the identifier KAC22 and was later changed to XZSA and then to TZSA.

031 (28) was a cross made by Sesaco between 578 (24) and 118 (9) in the Ramsey nursery (Roll, Ariz.) in 1984. Within Sesaco, it carried the identifier H0031 and then changed to T031.

2CA (29) was a cross made by Sesaco between L6651(26) and S11 (18) in the Wright nursery (Roll, Ariz.) in 1988. Within Sesaco, it has carried the identifier LCX02 and later changed to X2CA and then to T2CA.

SAA(30) was a cross made by Sesaco between ZSA (27) and 233 (23) in the Sharp nursery (Roll, Ariz.) in 1989. Within Sesaco, it has carried the identifier PE046 and later changed to XSAA and then to TSAA.

2CB (31) was a cross made by Sesaco between 56B (25) and 2CA (29) in the Gilleland nursery (Uvalde, Tex.) in 1992. Within Sesaco, it has carried the identifier AG729 and later changed to X2CB and then to T2CB.

13H (32) was a cross made by Sesaco between SAA(27) and 031 (28) in the Gilleland nursery (Uvalde, Tex.) in 1994. Within Sesaco, it has carried the identifier CM413 and later changed to X13H and then to T13H.

S33 (33) was obtained with the following method. A cross between 13H (32) and 2CB (31) was made in Year 1 (hereinafter “Year” is abbreviated as “YR”) and designated GD038.

The resulting seed of GD038, designated D038 was planted in a greenhouse in YR1-YR2.

The seed from this plant (E365) was planted in a plot (7105) in YR2. Eight individual plants were selected based on having a capsule zone much longer than the 13H parent, and the line was segregating capsule length.

The seed (7851) from one of the plants was planted in a plot (4478) in YR3. Eight individual plants were selected based on a yield that was higher than expected from the visual appearance of the plot, seed to the top of the plant, a very low plant height, and small leaves.

The seed (2654) from one of the plants was planted in plot A510 in YR4. Ten individual plants were harvested based on having a good yield for being so low and for making a very wide row.

The seed (3093) from one of the plants was planted in plot A820 in YR5. Four individual plants were harvested based on being a very low 13H phenotype, having a lot of capsules low, and good weather shatter resistance.

The designator was changed to X3HN. The seed (3966) from one of the plants was planted in plot 1131 in YR6. Seven individual plants were selected based on having a lot of capsules low, good lodging resistance, and good weather shatter resistance.

The seed (1002) from one of the plants was planted in plot 0562 in YR7. A bulk of 7 plants was selected based on not having any plants killed by root rot and having a lot of capsules low.

The seed (0600) from the plants was planted in plot WG17 in YR8. A bulk of 64 plants was selected based on having very good weather shatter resistance and excellent lodging resistance.

The seed (2189) from the plants was planted in strip plot VE81n in YR9. The line repeated on having very good weather shatter resistance and excellent lodging resistance.

The seed (3HN76) from the plants was planted in strip plot VC04s in YR10. The line repeated on having very good weather shatter resistance and excellent lodging resistance. Part of the strip was harvested for an increase and part was left for a combine test. This low type of phenotype had not been harvested before, and proved to flow through the header very well proving its commercial potential. The designator was changed to Sesaco 33.

The seed designated S33GW was planted in a farmer field in YR11 for final verification of weather shatter resistance, lodging resistance, combinability, and yield. There was not sufficient yield in the southern portion of the sesame growing area because of wide row spacing and thus additional testing in farmer fields was done in narrower row spacing in the northern areas in YR12. The variety was released to farmers in YR13.

Along with breeding programs, tissue culture of sesame is currently being practiced in such areas of the world as Korea, Japan, China, India, Sri Lanka and the United States. One of ordinary skill in the art may utilize sesame plants grown from tissue culture as parental lines in the production of non-dehiscent sesame. Further IND sesame may be propagated through tissue culture methods. By means well known in the art, sesame plants can be regenerated from tissue culture having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of the source plant.

The present invention includes the seed of sesame variety S33 deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591; a sesame plant or parts thereof produced by growing the seed deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591; any sesame plant having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of sesame variety S33; any sesame plant having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of a sesame plant produced by growing the seed deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591. The present invention also includes a tissue culture of regenerable cells produced from the seed having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591 or a tissue culture of regenerable cells from sesame variety S33 or a part thereof produced by growing the seed of sesame variety S33 having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591. A sesame plant regenerated from a tissue culture of regenerable cells produced from the seed having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591 or from sesame variety S33, wherein the regenerated sesame plant has all the physiological and morphological characteristics of sesame variety S33 is also contemplated by the present invention. Methods of producing sesame seed, comprising crossing a first parent sesame plant with a second parent sesame plant, wherein the first or second parent sesame plant was produced by seed having been deposited under ATCCPatent Deposit Designation No. PTA-11591 is part of the present invention.

Unless otherwise stated, as used herein, the term plant includes plant cells, plant protoplasts, plant cell tissue cultures from which sesame plants can be regenerated, plant calli, plant clumps, plant cells that are intact in plants, or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, ovules, flowers, capsules, stems, leaves, seeds, roots, root tips, and the like. Further, unless otherwise stated, as used herein, the term progeny includes plants derived from plant cells, plant protoplasts, plant cell tissue cultures from which sesame plants can be regenerated, plant calli, plant clumps, plant cells that are intact in plants, or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, ovules, flowers, capsules, stems, leaves, seeds, roots, root tips, and the like.

Sesame cultivar S33 has been tested experimentally over several years under various growing conditions ranging from South Texas to Southern Oklahoma. Sesame cultivar S33 has shown uniformity and stability within the limits of environmental influence for the characters listed in Table II below. Table II provides the name, definition, and rating scale of each character as well as the method by which the character is measured. Under the rating section, the rating for S33 is presented in bold text. Additionally, the distribution of the character in Sesaco's sesame development program is indicated under the rating section. Sesaco uses slightly different character specifications from “Descriptors for sesame”, AGP:IBPGR/80/71, IBPGR Secretariat, Rome, (1981) and from the form “Sesame (Sesamum indicum)”, U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Variety Protection Office, Beltsville, Md. The descriptors in those documents were developed in the early 1980s and have not been updated to incorporate new concepts in sesame data collection.

Table II provides characteristics of S33 for forty-three (43) traits. Numerical ratings and values reported in this table were experimentally determined for S33 with prior sesame varieties in side by side replicated trials. Actual numerical values and ratings for a given variety will vary according to the environment, and the values and ratings provided in Table II were obtained in the environment specified in the parenthetical following the S33 rating. If “NT” is indicated, it indicates that trait was not tested. Table V provides a direct comparison between the new S33 variety and the prior varieties thus demonstrating the relative differences between the varieties in the side by side trials.

TABLE II Characters Distinguishing the S33 Line Character Rating Methodology (1) BRANCHING S33 = B The amount of branching on any STYLE (All crops,all nurseries) particular plant depends on the space The potential amount of Subjective rating based on around the plant. In high populations, true branching in a line the following values: branching can be suppressed. This rating U = Uniculm—no should be based on potential as expressed branching except weak on end plants and plants in the open. branches in open True branches start in the leaf axil B = True branches below the first flower, and they begin to Distribution within Sesaco emerge before the first open flower. As based on stable lines in long as there is light into the leaf axils, the crossing program in there will be additional branches that start 1982-2001 (Total number below the first branches in subsequently of samples tested = 1,333) lower nodes. Weak branches occur when U = 42.4% a plant is in the open. They develop in the B = 57.6% lowest nodes and subsequent branches start at higher nodes. There are lines that will not branch in any circumstance. Some lines in the open will put on spontaneous branches late in the cycle. True and weak branches do not have a capsule in the same leaf axil, whereas the spontaneous branches form under the capsule after the capsule has formed. Spontaneous branches are not counted as branches. There are rare lines where the flowering pattern is to put on flowers on lower nodes late in the cycle. In this case, the capsule is formed after the branch is developed. This pattern should not be termed spontaneous branching, and the branch is normally counted as a true branch. There are branched lines that have secondary branches on the branches. In a few cases, there can be tertiary branches. Additional branches generally appear in low populations. COMMENTS: the effects of light appear to have more of an effect on branching than moisture and fertility. High populations suppress branching. (2) NUMBER OF S33 = 1 Rating can be taken from about 60 days CAPSULES PER LEAF (All crops,all nurseries) after planting through to the end of the AXIL Subjective rating based on crop. The predominant the following values: NUMBER OF CAPSULES PER LEAF number of capsules per 1 = Single AXIL is highly dependent on moisture, leaf axil in the middle 3 = Triple fertility, and light. In triple capsule lines, the half of the capsule zone Based on potential as central capsule forms first, and axillary described in the methodology capsules follow a few days later. Triple presented herein capsule lines have the potential to put on Distribution within Sesaco axillaries, but will not do so if plants do not based on stable lines in have adequate moisture and/or fertility. In the crossing program in drought conditions, some triple capsule 1982-2001 (Total number lines will produce only a central capsule for of samples tested = 1,327) many nodes. In these lines, when there is 1 = 58.3% adequate moisture through rain or 3 = 41.7% irrigation, some will add axillary capsules on only new nodes, while others will add axillary capsules to all nodes. Some triple capsule lines will not put on axillary capsules if there is no direct sunlight on the leaf axil. To date, lines with single capsules have nectaries next to the central capsule in the middle of the capsule zone while triple capsules do not. However, some lines have what appear to be nectaries on the lower capsules of triple lines, but upon close examination, they are buds which may or may not eventually develop into a flower and then a capsule. In most triple capsule lines, the lower and upper nodes have single capsules.There are some lines where the end plants can put on 5 capsules/leaf axil and a few that have the potential to put on 7 capsules/leaf axil. 5 and 7 capsules only appear with open plants with high moisture and fertility. In some environments, single capsule lines will put on multiple capsules on 1 node and rarely on up to 5 nodes. These lines are not considered triple capsule lines. (3) MATURITY CLASS S33 = M for 95days The basis for this data point is DAYS The maturity of a line in (Uvalde nursery^(a.) 2005- TO PHYSIOLOGICAL MATURITY relation to a standard 2008) (Character No. 29). S24 is the standard line. Currently, the Subjective rating based on line to be used to compute MATURITY standard line is S26 at the following values: CLASS. In 1998-2001, the maturity of S24 100 days V = Very early (<85 days) averaged 95 days in the Uvalde, TX, E = Early (85-94 days) nursery. Through 2006, the standard was M = Medium (95-104 adjusted using S24. As S24 was phased days) out of commercial planting, a new standard L = Late (105-114 days) needed to be established, and S26 was T = Very late (>114 days) selected. In 2001-2006, S26 averaged 5 Distribution within Sesaco days longer than S24. For each line, the based on stable lines in physiological maturity for each year is the crossing program in subtracted by the S26 maturity for that 1998-2001 (Total number year in that nursery, and then the number of samples tested = 650) of days of difference is averaged. The V = 1.2% average is then added to 100. E = 26.8% See DAYS TO PHYSIOLOGICAL M = 56.2% MATURITY (Character No. 29) for the L = 12.9% effects of the environment on MATURITY T = 2.9% CLASS. (4) PLANT S33 = B1M The first character is the BRANCHING PHENOTYPE (All crops; all nurseries) STYLE (Character No. 1), followed by the A three character Subjective rating based on NUMBER OF CAPSULES PER LEAF designation that the following values: AXIL (Character No. 2), and then the provides the branching BRANCHING STYLE MATURITY CLASS (Character No. 3). style, number of U = Uniculm—no When these characters are placed in a capsules per leaf axil, branching except weak matrix, there are 20 potential phenotypes. and the maturity class branches in open The phenotype provides an overview of B = True branches the general appearance of the plant. There NUMBER OF CAPSULES is a very high correlation between PER LEAF AXIL MATURITY CLASS and HEIGHT OF 1 = Single PLANT (Character No. 5). 3 = Triple MATURITY CLASS V = Very early (<85 days) E = Early (85-94 days) M = Medium (95-104 days) L = Late (105-114 days) T = Very late (>114 days) Distribution within Sesaco based on stable lines in the crossing program in 1998-2001 (Total number of samples tested= 650) U1V = 0% U3V = 1.1% U1E = 3.8% U3E = 8.3% U1M = 16.0% U3M = 12.0% U1L = 3.4% U3L = 2.2% U1T = 0.5% U3T = 0.6% B1V = 0% B3V = 0.2% B1E = 8.0% B3E = 6.3% B1M = 23.2% B3M = 4.8% B1L = 6.5% B3L = 1.0% B1T = 1.6% B3T = 0.4% (5) HEIGHT OF PLANT S33 = 158 cm The measurement is made after the The height of the plant (Uvalde nursery, 2010) plants stop flowering. For plants that are from the ground to the Value based on an the not erect or have lodged, the plant should top of the highest average of a minimum of be picked up for the measurement. In most capsule with viable three plants (unit of lines the highest capsule is on the main seed measure: cm) stem. In lines with the dt/dt alleles Distribution within Sesaco (determinate), the highest capsule is on based on stable lines in the branches. the crossing program in COMMENTS: this height is dependent 1999-2001 (Total number on the amount of moisture, heat, fertility, of samples tested = 2274) and population. Increased values generally low = 56 cm; high = 249 increase the height. In a high population, cm the height will only increase if there is 1 = <94.6 cm; 5.2% adequate fertility and moisture; otherwise, 2 = the height will be shorter. In low light 3 = <171.8 cm; 54.9% intensities, the heights are generally taller. 4 = <210.4 cm; 5.1% 5 = >210.3 cm; 0.1% avg. = 134.8 cm, std = 23.5 6) HEIGHT OF FIRST S33 = 49 cm The measurement is made after the CAPSULE (Uvalde nursery, 2010) plants stop flowering. For plants that are The height of the first Value based on an the not erect or have lodged, the plant should capsule from the average of a minimum of be picked up for the measurement. In most ground to the bottom of three plants (unit of lines, the lowest capsule is on the main the lowest capsule on measure: cm) stem. True branches have capsules higher the main stem Distribution within Sesaco than on the main stem except when the based on stable lines in flowers fall off the main stem. the crossing program in Occasionally, on weak branches, the 1999-2001 (Total number lowest capsule is on the branches. of samples tested = 2274) There are lines that flower in the lower low = 20 cm; high = 193 nodes late in the cycle, and, thus, the cm measurement should be taken after 1 = <54.6 cm; 52.7% flowering ends. In many lines the first 2 = <89.2 cm; 45.5% flower does not make a capsule, and, thus, 3 = <123.8 cm; 1.5% this height may not be the same as the 4 = <158.4 cm; 0.3% height of the first flower. The height is 5 = >158.3 cm; 0.1% correlated to the length of time to avg. = 54.2 cm, std = 14.3 flowering, the earlier the lower the height. COMMENTS: see HEIGHT OF PLANT(Character No. 5) for effects of environmental factors (7) CAPSULE ZONE S33 = 109 cm The measurement is derived by LENGTH (Uvalde nursery, 2010) subtracting the HEIGHT OF FIRST The length of the Value based on an the CAPSULE (Character No. 6) from the capsule zone. The average of a minimum of HEIGHT OF PLANT (Character No. 5). capsule zone extends three plants (unit of COMMENTS: see HEIGHT OF from the bottom of the measure: cm) PLANT(Character No. 5) for effects of lowest capsule on the Distribution within Sesaco environmental factors main stem to the top of based on stable lines in the highest capsule on the crossing program in the main stem. 1999-2001 (Total number of samples tested = 2274) low = 18 cm; high = 188 cm 1 = <52 cm; 4.7% 2 = <186 cm; 53.5% 3 = <120 cm; 41.3% 4 = <154 cm; 0.5% 5 = >153.9 cm; 0.1% avg. = 80.6 cm, std = 17.2 (8) NUMBER OF S33 = 36 pairs The count is made after the plants stop CAPSULE NODE (Uvalde nursery, 2010) flowering. On opposite and alternate PAIRS Value based on an the arranged leaves, each pair of leaves is The number of capsule average of a minimum of counted as one node pair. In some lines, node pairs from the three plants (unit of there are three leaves per node for at least lowest capsule node to measure: number ) part of the plant, and those are counted as the highest node with Distribution within Sesaco one node pair. In some plants, flowers may capsules with viable based on stable lines in not have produced capsules on one or seed on the main stem the crossing program in more of the leaf axils in a node. These of the plant 1999-2001 (Total number node pairs should still be counted. of samples tested = 2154) Node pairs on the branches are not counted. low = 10; high = 54 In years when the amount of moisture 1 = <18.8; 17.9% available to the plant is irregular, node 2 = <27.6; 48.3% pairs can become very irregular, 3 = <36.4; 29.5% particularly on triple capsule lines. In the 4 = <45.2; 3.6% upper portions of the plant, it may become 5 = >45.1; 0.7% easier to count the capsule clusters and avg. = 25.3, std = 6.4 divide by 2. While it is possible to count node pairs after leaves have fallen, it is much easier to count while the leaves are still on the plant. COMMENTS: the number of node pairs is dependent on the amount of moisture and fertility. Higher moisture and fertility increases the number of node pairs. (9) AVERAGE S33 = 3.1 cm Divide the CAPSULE ZONE LENGTH INTERNODE LENGTH (Uvalde nursery, 2010) (Character No. 7) by the NUMBER OF WITHIN CAPSULE Value based on an the CAPSULE NODES (Character No. 8). ZONE average of a minimum of COMMENTS: this length is dependent The average internode three plants (unit of on the amount of moisture, fertility, and length within the measure: cm) population. Increased values generally capsule zone Distribution within Sesaco increase the length. In a high population, based on stable lines in the length will only increase if there is the crossing program in adequate fertility and moisture; otherwise 1999-2001 (Total number the length will be shorter. In low light of samples tested = 2145) intensities, the lengths are generally low = 1.09 cm; high = 8.09 longer. cm Past methodologies have measured the 1 = <2.49 cm; 6.2% internode length at the middle of the 2 = <3.89 cm; 74.6% capsule zone. Some have measured it at 3 = <5.29 cm; 18.6% the median node and others at the median 4 = <6.69 cm; 0.4% CAPSULE ZONE LENGTH. 5 = >6.68 cm; 0.1% avg. = 3.35 cm, std = 0.66 (10) YIELD AT S33 = 1,260 kg/ha On 3 replicated plots, when the plants DRYDOWN (Uvalde nursery, 2010) are dry enough for direct harvest, cut a An extrapolation of the Values based on the minimum of 1/5000 of a hectare (Sesaco yield of a field by taking average of a minimum of uses 1/2620) in the plot and place the sample yields three replications(unit of plants in a cloth bag. Thresh the sample in measure: kg/ha) a plot thresher and weigh the seed. Distribution within Sesaco Multiply the weight by the appropriate based on stable lines in multiplier based on area taken to provide the crossing program in the extrapolated yield in kg/ha. 1999-2001 (Total number In the Almaco thresher there is about of samples tested = 1828) 3% trash left in the seed. Since yields are low = 67 kg/ha comparative, there is no cleaning of the high = 2421 kg/ha seed done before the computation. If other 1 = <537.8 kg/ha; 5.6% threshers have more trash, the seed 2 = <1008.6 kg/ha; 15.6% should be cleaned before weighing. 3 = <1479.4 kg/ha; 51.5% COMMENTS: yields increase with 4 = <1950.2 kg/ha; 25.8% moisture and fertility. However, too high a 5 = >1950.1 kg/ha; 1.4% moisture can lead to killing of plants. Too avg. = 1114.6 kg/ha, high fertility can lead to extra vegetative std = 331.2 growth that may not lead to higher yields. The optimum population depends on the PLANT PHENOTYPE, Character No. 4 (BRANCHING STYLE, Character No. 1; NUMBER OF CAPSULES PER LEAF AXIL, Character No. 2; and MATURITY CLASS, Character No. 3) and row width. (11) RESISTANCE TO S33 = NT In a year when there is a drought, this DROUGHT Average of a minimum of rating can be used to differentiate the The relative amount of three plots of a subjective effects of the different lines. This is a resistance to drought rating based on the subjective rating requiring a rater that is following values: familiar with the performance of the line 0 to 8 scale under normal conditions. The rating is 7 = Little effect from based on how the drought changes the drought line from normal. Thus, a short line that 4 = Medium effect from does not change significantly in a drought drought may have a higher rating than a tall line 1 = Considerable effect which is affected by the drought even from drought though the taller line is taller in the drought Intermediate values are than the short line. used. Distribution within Sesaco based on stable lines in the crossing program in 2000 (Total number of samples tested = 632) low = 0; high = 8 1 = <1.6; 0.8% 2 = <3.2; 28.0% 3 = <4.8; 36.1% 4 = <6.4; 34.5% 5 = >6.3; 0.6% avg. = 4.1, std = 1.2 (12) LEAF LENGTH S33 = 19.8for 5^(th) node Select one leaf per node to measure The length of the leaf pair; 15.7for 10^(th) node from the 5^(th), 10^(th), and 15^(th) node pairs from blade from the base of pair; and 11.1for 15^(th) the base of the plant. All the leaves for one the petiole to the apex node pair line should be collected at the same time. of the leaf from the 5^(th), (Uvalde nursery, 2008) Some lines retain the cotyledons, and the Character Rating Methodology 10^(th), and 15^(th) node Value based on an the cotyledon node does not count as a node pairs average of a minimum of pair. In some lines the lowest leaves three plants (unit of abscise leaving a scar on the stem. measure: cm) Abscised nodes should be counted. In Distribution within Sesaco lines with alternate leaves, one node is for 5th leaf based on stable counted for each pair of leaves. In some lines in the crossing lines in parts of the plant there are three program in 2002 (Total leaves per node which should be counted number of lines tested = as one node. 196 with 711 samples) The leaves continue growing in the first low = 13.8 cm; high = 42.5 few days after they have separated from cm the growing tip. The choosing of leaves 1 = <19.5 cm; 34.7% should be done a minimum of 5 days after 2 = <25.3 cm; 48.0% the 15th node has appeared. Timing is 3 = <31.0 cm; 14.3% important, because the plants will begin to 4 = <36.8 cm; 1.5% shed their lower leaves towards the end of 5 = >36.7 cm; 1.5% their cycle. avg. = 21.5 cm, std = 4.4 There are lines that have less than 15 Distribution within Sesaco nodes. In this case, the highest node for 10^(th) leaf based on should be taken and the node number stable lines in the crossing annotated to the measurements. program in 2002 (Total There can be as much as 6 mm number of lines tested = difference between a green leaf and a dry 196 with 711 samples) leaf. The measurements can be done on a low = 9.3 cm; high = 32.9 green or dry leaf as long as any cm comparison data with other lines is based 1 = <14.0 cm; 22.4% on the same method. 2 = <18.7 cm; 41.8% Generally, the lowest leaves increase in 3 = <23.5 cm; 20.9% size until the 4th to 6th node and then they 4 = <28.2 cm; 10.2% decrease in size. This applies to LEAF 5 = >28.1 cm; 4.6% LENGTH (Character No. 12) , LEAF avg. = 17.9 cm, std = 4.8 BLADE WIDTH (Character No. 14), and Distribution within Sesaco PETIOLE LENGTH (Character No. 15). In for 15^(th) leaf based on few cases, LEAF BLADE stable lines in the crossing LENGTHCharacter No. 13) can increase program in 2002 (Total up the 10th node, but will decrease by the number of lines tested = 15th node. Generally, the width will 196 with 711 samples) decrease at a greater rate than the length. low = 4.4 cm; high = 26.2 COMMENTS: the length is dependent cm on the amount of moisture and fertility. 1 = <8.8 cm; 5.1% Higher moisture and fertility increase the 2 = <13.1 cm; 42.9% length. Leaf size also appears to be 3 = <17.5 cm; 29.8% affected by light intensity. In Korea, the 4 = <21.8 cm; 15.8% Korean lines have much larger leaves than 5 = >21.7 cm; 6.6% in Oklahoma. In Korea, there is more cloud avg. = 14.3 cm, std = 4.2 cover and a general haze than in Oklahoma. (13) LEAF BLADE S33 = 11.7for 5^(th) node See LEAF LENGTH (Character No. 12) LENGTH pair; 12.8for 10^(th) node on how to collect leaves. The The length of the leaf pair; and 10.3for 15^(th) measurement does not include PETIOLE blade from the base of node pair LENGTH (Character No. 15). In some the leaf blade to the (Uvalde nursery, 2008) leaves the blade on one side of the petiole apex of the leaf from Value based on an the starts before the other side. This measure the 5^(th), 10^(th), and 15^(th) average of a minimum of should start from the lowest blade side. node pairs three plants (unit of There are leaves that have enations where measure: cm) a blade starts and then stops. The Distribution within Sesaco enations are not considered part of the leaf or 5^(th) leaf based on stable blade because they are very irregular from lines in the crossing plant to plant and within a plant. program in 2002 (Total COMMENTS: see LEAF LENGTH number of lines tested = (Character No. 12) for effects of 196 with 711 samples) environment low = 9.0 cm; high = 25.5 cm 1 = <12.3 cm; 14.3% 2 = <15.6 cm; 60.2% 3 = <18.9 cm; 20.9% 4 = <22.2 cm; 3.1% 5 = >22.1 cm; 1.5% avg. = 14.4 cm, std = 2.4 Distribution within Sesaco for 10^(th) leaf based on stable lines in the crossing program in 2002 (Total number of lines tested = 196 with 711 samples) low = 8.3 cm; high = 23.4 cm 1 = <11.3 cm; 18.9% 2 = <14.3 cm; 42.9% 3 = <17.4 cm; 25.0% 4 = <20.4 cm; 9.2% 5 = >20.3 cm; 4.1% avg. = 13.9 cm, std = 3.0 Distribution within Sesaco for 15^(th) leaf based on stable lines in the crossing program in 2002 (Total number of lines tested = 196 with 711 samples) low = 4.2 cm; high = 20.7 cm 1 = <7.5 cm; 2.0% 2 = <10.8 cm; 36.7% 3 = <14.1 cm; 37.8% 4 = <17.4 cm; 16.3% 5 = >17.3 cm; 7.1% avg. = 12.0 cm, std = 3.0 (14) LEAF BLADE S33 = 11.7for 5^(th) node See LEAF LENGTH (Character No. 12) WIDTH pair; 1.9 for 10^(th) node on how to collect leaves. There are many The width of the leaf pair; and 1.2for 15^(th) node leaves that are not symmetrical with lobing blade measured across pair on one side and not the other. The width the leaf blade at the (Uvalde nursery, 2008) should still be measured across the widest widest point at the 5^(th), Value based on an the point on a line perpendicular to the main 10^(th), and 15^(th) node average of a minimum of vein of the leaf. pairs three plants (unit of On some lines the width exceeds the measure: cm) Distribution within Sesaco length, particularly on lobed leaves. for 5^(th) leaf based on stable COMMENTS: see LEAF LENGTH lines in the crossing (Character No. 12) for effects of program in 2002 (Total environment number of lines tested = The widest leaves are lobed. Normally, 196 with 711 samples) the leaves have turned from lobed to low = 3.4 cm; high = 31.0 lanceolate by the 10th leaf with the cm exception of the tropical lines. 1 = <8.9 cm; 53.1% 2 = <14.4 cm; 33.7% 3 = <20.0 cm; 9.7% 4 = <25.5 cm; 2.6% 5 = >25.4 cm; 1.0% avg. = 9.6 cm, std = 4.3 Distribution within Sesaco for 10^(th) leaf based on stable lines in the crossing program in 2002 (Total number of lines tested = 196 with 711 samples) low = 1.3 cm; high = 17.6 cm 1 = <4.6 cm; 69.4% 2 = <7.8 cm; 25.0% 3 = <11.1 cm; 4.6% 4 = <14.3 cm; 0% 5 = >14.2 cm; 1.0% avg. = 4.3 cm, std = 2.2 Distribution within Sesaco for 15^(th) leaf based on stable lines in the crossing program in 2002 (Total number of lines tested = 196 with 711 samples) low = 0.7 cm; high = 6.0 cm 1 = <1.8 cm; 29.1% 2 = <2.8 cm; 48.0% 3 = <3.9 cm; 15.3% 4 = <4.9 cm; 4.6% 5 = >4.8 cm; 3.1% avg. = 2.3 cm, std = 0.9 (15) PETIOLE LENGTH S33 = 8.1for 5^(th) node See LEAF BLADE LENGTH (Character pair; 2.9for 10^(th) node No. 13) on how to collect leaves. In some The length of the pair; and 1.8for 15^(th) node leaves, the blade on one side of the petiole petiole from the base of pair starts before the other side. This measure the petiole to the start (Uvalde nursery, 2008) should end where the earliest blade starts. of the leaf blade at the Value based on an the There are leaves that have enations where 5^(th), 10^(th), and 15^(th) node average of a minimum of a blade starts and then stops. The pairs three plants (unit of enations are not considered part of the leaf measure: cm) blade because they are very irregular from Distribution within Sesaco plant to plant and within a plant and should for 5^(th) leaf based on stable be measured as part of the petiole. lines in the crossing COMMENTS: see LEAF LENGTH program in 2002 (Total (Character No. 12) for effects of number of lines tested = environment 196 with 711 samples) low = 3.0 cm; high = 17.0 cm 1 = <5.8 cm; 35.2% 2 = <8.6 cm; 39.8% 3 = <11.4 cm; 19.4% 4 = <14.2 cm; 4.1% 5 = >14.1 cm; 1.5% avg. = 7.0 cm, std = 2.5 Distribution within Sesaco for 10^(th) leaf based on stable lines in the crossing program in 2002 (Total number of lines tested = 196 with 711 samples) low = 1.0 cm; high = 14.2 cm 1 = <3.6 cm; 53.6% 2 = <6.3 cm; 31.6% 3 = <8.9 cm; 11.7% 4 = <11.6 cm; 2.0% 5 = >11.5 cm; 1.0% avg. = 4.0 cm, std = 2.1 Distribution within Sesaco for 15^(th) leaf based on stable lines in the crossing program in 2002 (Total number of lines tested = 196 with 711 samples) low = 0.2 cm; high = 7.4 cm 1 = <1.6 cm; 38.8% 2 = <3.1 cm; 41.8% 3 = <4.5 cm; 13.3% 4 = <6.0 cm; 3.1% 5 = >5.9 cm; 3.1% avg. = 2.3 cm, std = 1.3 (16) NUMBER OF S33 = 2 The rating can be taken from about 60 CARPELS PER (All crops,all nurseries) days after planting to all the way to the end CAPSULE Subjective rating based on of the crop. The predominant the following values: There are many plants with mixed number of carpels per 2 = bicarpellate number of carpels as follows: capsule in the middle 3 = tricarpellate 1. Some bicarpellate plants will have half of the capsule zone 4 = quadricarpellate one or more nodes near the center of the (unit of measure: actual capsule zone that have tri- and/or number quadricarpellate capsules and vice versa. Distribution within Sesaco 2. Most tri- and quadri-carpellate plants based on the introductions will begin and end with bicarpellate nodes. received in 1982-2001 3. Some plants have only one carpel (Total number of samples that develops. These capsules are tested = 2702) generally bent, but on examination the 2nd 2 = 97.6% carpel can be seen. 3 = 0.0004% 4. On all types, flowers may coalesce 4 = 2.3% and double or triple the number of Sesaco has not developed carpels. lines with more than 2 5. On the seamless gene plants (gs/gs) carpels. the false membranes do not form locules. These are still considered bicarpellate. (17) CAPSULE S33 = 2.10 cm After the plants are physiologically LENGTH FROM 10cap (All experimental mature, take 2 capsules from five plants TEST nurseries, 1997-2010) from the middle of the capsule zone. On The length of the Value based on the three capsule per leaf axil lines, one capsule from the average of a minimum of central capsule and one axillary capsule bottom of the seed three samples of the should be taken from the same leaf axil. chamber to the top of length taken on the The measurement is taken on the median the seed chamber from median capsule in a 10 capsule of single capsule lines and on the the outside of the capsule sample (unit of median central capsule on three capsule capsule. The tip of the measure: cm) lines. The measurement is taken on dry capsule is not included Distribution within Sesaco capsules because the length can shorten in the measurement. based on 10cap test in all as much as one mm on drydown. nurseries in 1997-2002 The 10 capsules can be sampled from (Total number of lines physiological maturity through complete tested = 1,613 with 8,285 drydown without an effect on this samples) character. low = 1.3 cm; high = 4.5 Generally, the capsules in the middle of cm the capsule zone are the longest on the 1 = <1.94 cm; 2.7% plant. 2 = <2.58 cm; 67.9% COMMENTS: the length of the capsule 3 = <3.22 cm; 27.2% is dependent on the amount of moisture, 4 = <3.86 cm; 1.9% fertility, and population. Higher moisture 5 = >3.85 cm; 0.3% and fertility increase the length. Higher avg. = 2.44 cm, std = 0.33 population decreases the length even with adequate moisture/fertility. (18) SEED WEIGHT S33 = 0.202 g See CAPSULE LENGTH FROM 10CAP PER CAPSULE FROM (All experimental TEST (Character No. 17) for collection of 10cap TEST nurseries, 1997-2010) capsules. The capsules should be dried, The weight of the seed Value based on the the seed threshed out and the seed in a capsule from the average of a minimum of weighed. center of the capsule three samples of theweight The 10 capsules can be sampled from zone of 10 capsules (unit of physiological maturity through complete weight: grams) drydown without an effect on this Distribution within Sesaco character. After drydown, only capsules based on 10cap test in all with all their seed are taken. Thus, this test nurseries in 1997-2002 cannot be done on shattering lines after (Total number of lines drydown. tested = 1,613 with 8,285 Generally, the capsules in the middle of samples) the capsule zone have the highest seed low = 0.053 g; high = weight per capsule on the plant. 0.476 g COMMENTS: see CAPSULE LENGTH 1 = <0.138 g; 1.3% FROM 10CAP TEST (Character No. 17) 2 = <0.222 g; 47.6% for the effects of environmental factors. 3 = <0.307 g; 50.6% 4 = <0.391 g; 1.1% 5 = >0.390 g; 0.1% avg. = 0.221 g, std = 0.039 (19) CAPSULE S33 = 0.138 g See CAPSULE LENGTH FROM 10CAP WEIGHT PER (All experimental TEST (Character No. 17) for collection of CAPSULE FROM nurseries,1997-2010) capsules. The capsules should be dried, 10cap TEST Value based on the the seed threshed out, and the capsules The weight of the average of a minimum of weighed. At times the peduncle can still capsule from the center three samples of the be attached to the capsules. The of the capsule zone weight of 10 capsules (unit peduncles should be removed and not after the seed has been of measure: grams) weighed. removed Distribution within Sesaco The 10 capsules can be sampled from based on 10cap test in all physiological maturity through complete nurseries in 1997-2002 drydown without an effect on this (Total number of lines character. tested = 1,613 with 8,285 Generally, the capsules in the middle of samples) the capsule zone have the highest capsule low = 0.059 g; high = weight per capsule on the plant. 0.395 g COMMENTS: see CAPSULE LENGTH 1 = <0.126 g; 22.6% FROM 10CAP TEST (Character No. 17) 2 = <0.193 g; 69.1% for the effects of environmental factors. 3 = <0.261 g; 8.2% 4 = <0.328 g; 0.9% 5 = >0.327 g; 0.6% avg. = 0.152 g, std = 0.036 (20) CAPSULE S33 = 0.065 g The weight is derived by dividing the WEIGHT PER CM OF (All experimental CAPSULE WEIGHT PER CAPSULE CAPSULE nurseries, 1997-2010) FROM 10CAP TEST (Character No. 19) The weight of a capsule Value based on the by the CAPSULE LENGTH FROM 10CAP per cm of capsule from average of a minimum of TEST (Character No. 17). the center of the three samples of the The 10 capsules can be sampled from capsule zone weight per cm of 10 physiological maturity through complete capsules(unit of measure: drydown without an effect on this grams) character. Distribution within Sesaco COMMENTS: this character is used based on 10cap test in all instead of capsule width. Capsule width is nurseries in 1997-2002 difficult to measure because there are so (Total number of lines many variables in a capsule. In a tested = 1,613 with 8,285 bicarpellate capsule, the width differs when samples) measuring across one carpel or both low = 0.027 g; high = carpels. Capsules can also vary through 0.123 g the length of the capsule by being 1 = <0.046 g; 8.2% substantially narrower at the bottom, 2 = <0.065 g; 55.5% middle or top of the capsule. In 1997, four 3 = <0.085 g; 36.5% widths were measured on each capsule 4 = <0.104 g; 4.4% and then averaged. This average had a 5 = >0.103 g; 0.5% very high correlation to the capsule weight avg. = 0.063 g, std = 0.012 per cm of capsule. See CAPSULE LENGTH FROM 10CAP TEST (Character No. 17) for effects of environmental factors (21) VISUAL SEED S33 = I This rating is used for plants that are RETENTION (All crops, all nurseries) being selected for advanced testing Amount of seed in most Subjective rating based on whether individually or in a bulk with all the of the capsules in the the following values: plants having the same level of seed middle half of the X = <50% seed retention retention. capsule zone when the (unsuitable for direct Most “X” plants can be identified from plant(s) are dry enough harvest) the first capsule that dries since the seed combine C = 50-74% seed retention will begin falling out immediately. for direct harvest with a (unsuitable for direct A “C” (close to V) plant will have some harvest, but may capsules with seed and some without. segregate V or above in A “V” (visual shatter resistance) plant future generations) can be identified when the first 50% of the V = >74% seed retention capsules have dried, but a “V+” rating (sufficient seed retention should not be used until the complete plant for 10cap testing) is dry and most of the capsules are W = >74% seed retention showing seed retention. on weathering in field after Some “V” plants can be upgraded to rains and/or winds “W” after the dry capsules have been I = in using the “drum test” subjected to weather (rain and/or wind) the seed in the capsules “V” and “W” become non-dehiscent only do not rattle and >85% of after 10cap testing with about an 80% the capsules on the passing rate. 10cap testing is done on “I” plant(s) harvested have selections have had about a 99% passing visible seed in the tips of rate. the capsules four or more The “drum test” consists of placing the weeks after the ideal fingers from one hand about 1/2 inch from harvest time. The “I” the center of the main stem and then rating is used for all of the striking the stem alternately with one finger capsules on the plant. and then the other finger in rapid ‘+’ and ‘−’ modifiers can succession. The human ear can perceive be used. degree of rattling over a range. IND is defined as having no rattle. Degree of rattle in this test correlates with loss of increasing amounts of seed as capsules are exposed to weather conditions. COMMENTS: the ratings above should be made under normal conditions (600 mm of annual rainfall and 30 kg/ha of nitrogen) through high moisture/fertility conditions. In drought or very low fertility conditions, it has been observed that there is less seed retention. In addition, high populations may lead to low moisture or fertility causing less seed retention. If unusual environmental conditions are present, the effects should be taken into consideration prior to rating. (22) SHAKER S33 = 83.2 % See CAPSULE LENGTH FROM 10CAP SHATTER (All experimental TEST (Character No. 17) for collection of RESISTANCE FROM nurseries, 1997-2010) capsules. The capsules should be dried 10cap TEST Value based on the and inverted. The capsules and any seed The amount of seed average of a minimum of that has fallen out should then be placed in retention after the three samples of the flasks on a reciprocal shaker with a 3.8 cm capsules are dry, percentage of seed stroke with 250 strokes/min for 10 minutes inverted, and put retained in 10 capsules (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,452). The seed through a shaker (10 (unit of measure: Actual that comes out of the capsules should be capsule sample) Number expressed as weighed as ‘out seed.’ The retained seed percentage) should be threshed out of the capsules Distribution within Sesaco and weighed to compute the ‘total seed’. based on 10cap test in all The shaker shatter resistance is computed nurseries in 1997-2002 as a percentage as follows: (total seed - (Total number of lines out seed)/total seed. tested = 1,613 with 8,285 The 10 capsules can be sampled from samples) physiological maturity through complete low = 0; high = 100 drydown without an effect on this character 1 = <20; 12.9% for shatter resistant types. When taking 2 = <40; 6.9% capsules after drydown, only capsules with 3 = <60; 23.4% all their seed are taken. Thus, this test 4 = <80; 47.7% cannot be done on shattering lines after 5 = >79.9; 9.2% drydown. avg. = 55.9%, std = 23.9 COMMENTS: The ratings above should be made under normal conditions through high moisture/fertility conditions. In drought or very low fertility conditions, it has been observed that there is less seed retention. In additions, high populations may lead to low moisture or fertility causing there to be less seed retention. If unusual environmental conditions are present, the effects should be taken into consideration prior to rating. Lines with shaker shatter resistance >64.9% are known as non-dehiscent lines (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,452). (23) CAPSULE S33 = SR The rating is based on visual SHATTERING TYPE (All crops, all nurseries) observations as to seed retention as the Amount of seed Subjective rating based on plants remain standing in the field without retention in a line or the following values: shocking. plant SUS = Super-shattering GS plants can be identified while the (<2 visual seed retention— plant is putting on capsules or at drydown equates to <25%) because the carpels in the capsules do not SHA = Shattering (<4 form false membranes. There are plants visual seed retention— that will have capsules with false equates to <50%) membranes on the lower and upper nodes SSH = Semi-shattering (4- but most of the capsules show no false 6 visual seed retention— membranes. equates to 50 to 75%) ID plants can be identified during the SR = Shatter resistant (a growing season in that they have enations numeric rating > 6 visual on the bottoms of the leaves. At dry down seed retention without id they are more difficult to distinguish from or gs alleles—equates to other lines that have closed capsules >75%; an alphabetical (other than GS). There is less of a suture rating of V, W, or I) than other capsule types. ID = Indehiscent SUS, SHA, SSH, and SR are defined by (presence of id/id with VISUAL SEED RETENTION (Character capsule closed) No. 21). IDO = Indehiscent COMMENTS: Most environmental (presence of id/id with factors do not have much of an effect on capsule open at tip) capsule shattering type other than to make GS = Seamless it more difficult to distinguish in the overlap (presence of gs/gs with zone. Generally, higher moisture, higher capsule closed) fertility, and lower populations will GSO = Seamless decrease the shattering a small amount - (presence of gs/gs with less than 10%. capsule open at tip) The wind can have a large effect in decreasing the amount of seed retention. Rain, dew and fog can also reduce seed retention. (24) NON-DEHISCENT S33 = ND Lines are designated as ND only after they TEST (All crops, all nurseries) have undergone a minimum of 3 shaker A line that has passed Objectiverating based on shatter resistance tests. In order to be the non-dehiscent test the following values: considered an ND variety, the line must of having shaker shatter ND = Non-dehiscent line pass the ND threshold in multiple nurseries resistance > 64.9% is XX = Line that does not for multiple years. considered an ND line pass the non-dehiscent in accordance with U.S. test Pat. No. 6,100,452. ND distribution within Sesaco based on 10cap test in all nurseries in 1997-2006 (Total number of samples tested = 10,905) ND = 53.6% XX = 46.4% (25) IMPROVED NON- S33 = 7.5 This rating is used for a plot or field that DEHISCENT VISUAL (Uvalde nursery, 2010) is being evaluated. RATING S33= 7.5 The data is taken four or more weeks Amount of seed in most (Lorenzo nursery, 2010)^(b) after the ideal harvest time. See DAYS of the capsules in the Value based on the TO DIRECT HARVEST (Character No. plants in a plot four or average on a minimum of 30). Estimate the percentage of capsules more weeks after the three plots of a subjective that have visible seed at the top. In the ideal harvest time. rating based on the beginning in order to develop an eye for percentage of capsules the rating, the evaluator should observe all with visible seed retention of the capsules and rate each of them; get 8 < 100% a counts of those with visible seeds and a 7 < 85% count of total capsules; and compute a 6 < 70% percentage. Once the evaluator is skilled, 5 > 55% there is no need to count the capsules. Z < 55% There is a very high correlation between ‘*’, ‘+’, and ‘−’ modifiers can this rating upon visual evaluation and the be used. For averages, amount of rattling generated by the “drum 0.5 is added for a ‘*’, 0.33 test” defined above. is added for a ‘+’, and 0.33 Although retention can vary from plant is subtracted for a ‘−’, e.g., to plant and even within a plant, the overall “7+” = 7.33. rating is correlatable with IND. (Total number of lines In crossing between lines, in early tested = 288 with 801 generations there is a segregation of IND samples in 2006) plants and non-IND plants. In this case low = 2.97; high = 7.33 the plot is given a rating of the majority of 1 = <6.0; 2.1% plants while the plants selected can have a 2 = <6.5; 20.8% higher rating which is reflected in VISUAL 3 = <7.0; 13.2% SEED RETENTION. The ratings that are 4 = <7.5; 63.9% cited in this character are for plots, but a 5 = >7.5; 0% ratings of 7 or 8 are only given if over 90% avg. = 6.77, std = 0.54 of the plants have the higher rating. Note: The percentage of lines between 7.0 and 7.6 is very high because Sesaco has established a new threshold for a new variety of IND > 6.9 and only lines that are IND or segregating IND are rated. (26) IMPROVED NON- S33 = IND Varieties were designated as IND after DEHISCENCE TEST (All crops, all nurseries they demonstrated the defined An ND line that passes Subjective rating based on characteristics with statistically significant the rattle test and has a the following values: data. visual IND rating > 6.99 IND = Improved Non- is considered IND. A dehiscent line method for traditional ZZ = Line that does not breeding of an IND line pass the improved non- is described in dehiscent test concurrently filed U.S. Distribution within Sesaco patent application based on visual IND (Total Ser. No. 12/041,257. number of lines tested = ND and IND lines 1,934 in all nurseries from should not have id or gs 2005 to 2007) alleles. IND = 9.5% ZZ = 90.5% (27) DAYS TO S33 = 39 days The vegetative phase in sesame is from FLOWERING (Uvalde nursery, 2010) the time of planting to the start of Number of days from Value based on the flowering. planting until 50% of the average of a minimum of This data is taken as a date and later plants are flowering three plots of the number converted to number of days. Flowering is of days (unit of measure: defined as flowers that are open—not days) buds. Distribution within Sesaco COMMENTS: flowering can be based on lines in Uvalde accelerated by drought and it can be nursery in 2000-2001 delayed by higher moisture and/or fertility. (Total number of samples Higher heat units will decrease the days to tested = 1831) flowering. low = 33 days; high = 89 Some lines are photosensitive and will days only begin flowering at a certain number of 1 = <44.2 days; 87.9% hours of daylight. 2 = <55.4 days; 7.8% Start of flowering does not always 3 = <66.6 days; 2.4% equate to start of capsule formation. Many 4 = <77.8 days; 1.7% lines will flower and not set capsules from 5 = >77.7 days; 0.2% the first flowers. avg. = 40.9 days, std = 6.3 (28) DAYS TO S33 = 88 days The reproductive phase of sesame is FLOWER (Uvalde nursery, 2010) from the start to the end of flowering. TERMINATION Value based on the This data is taken as a date and later Number of days from average of a minimum of converted to number of days. Flowering is planting until 90% of the three plots of the number defined as flowers that are open—not plants have stopped of days (unit of measure: buds. At the end of the flowering period, flowering days) the rate that a plant puts on open flowers Distribution within Sesaco is reduced. Thus, there can be more than based on lines in Uvalde 10% of plants with buds and still have nursery in 2000-2001 reached this measure since there will not (Total number of samples be more than 10% with open flowers on tested = 2668) any one day. low = 61 days; high = 114 The measure is based on the number of days plants and not the number of flowering 1 = <71.6 days; 21.1% heads. The branches will stop flowering 2 = <82.2 days; 61.5% before the main stem, and thus the plot will 3 = <92.8 days; 15.9% appear like there are more plants not 4 = <103.4 days; 0.8% flowering. 5 = >103.3 days; 0.8% COMMENTS: flower termination can avg. = 77.1 days, std = 6.9 be accelerated by lower moisture and/or fertility, and it can be delayed by higher moisture and/or fertility. Higher heat units will decrease the DAYS TO FLOWER TERMINATION. It is known that there are lines that stop flowering sooner than expected in northern latitudes, but it is not known if this is due to shorter photoperiod or cool temperatures. (29) DAYS TO S33 = 110 days The ripening phase of sesame is from PHYSIOLOGICAL (Uvalde nursery, 2010), the end of flowering until physiological MATURITY 103 days (Uvalde nursery maturity. Number of days from mean for 2006, 2007, This data is taken as a date and later planting until 50% of the 2008, 2010) converted to number of days. Physiological plants reach Value based on the maturity (PM) is defined as the point at physiological maturity average of a minimum of which 3/4 of the capsules have seed with three plots of the number final color. In most lines, the seed will also of days (unit of measure: have a seed line and tip that are dark. days) COMMENTS: The concept of Distribution within Sesaco physiological maturity in sesame was based on lines in Uvalde developed by M.L. Kinman (personal nursery in 2000-2001 communication) based on the concept of (Total number of samples determining the optimum time to cut a tested = 2374) plant and still harvest 95-99% of the low = 77 days; high = 140 potential yield. When the seed has final days color, the seed can germinate under the 1 = <89.6 days; 16.8% proper conditions. If the plant is cut at 2 = 102.2 days; 58.0% physiological maturity, most of the seed 3 = <114.8 days; 23.6% above the % mark will go to final color and 4 = <127.4 days; 1.4% are mature enough to germinate, but will 5 = >127.3 days; 0.2% not have as much seed weight. Since in avg. = 97.1 days, std = 7.1 even a fully mature plant, there is less seed weight made at the top of the plant, this loss of seed weight does not seriously affect the potential seed weight of the plant. Although present harvest methods let the plants mature and go to complete drydown, PM is important because after that point, the crop is less susceptible to yield loss due to frost or disease. The PM is also important if the crop is to be swathed or harvest aids are to be applied. Physiological maturity can be accelerated by lower moisture and/or fertility, and it can be delayed by higher moisture and/or fertility. Higher heat units will decrease the days to physiological maturity. Cool weather can delay physiological maturity. (30) DAYS TO DIRECT S33 = 156 days The drying phase of sesame is from HARVEST (Uvalde nursery, 2010) physiological maturity until direct harvest. Number of days from Value based on the This data is taken as a date and later planting until there is average of a minimum of converted to number of days. Direct enough drydown for three plots of the number harvest is defined as the date at which the direct harvest of days (unit of measure: plants are dry enough for combining seed days) at 6% or less moisture. Over 99% of the Distribution within Sesaco sesame in the world is harvested by hand based on lines in all before the plant completely dries down. nurseries from 2004 The plants should be dry below where tthrough 2006 the cutter bar of the combine will hit the (Total number of samples plants. In many lines, 15-20 cm from the tested = 1,998) ground can be green without an effect on low = 103 days; high = 161 the moisture of the seed. In taking the days data on a plot, the plants at the aisle have 1 = <114.6 days; 3.3% more moisture and fertility available and 2 = <126.2 days; 13.3% will drydown later. The same is true for 3 = <137.8 days; 32.1% plants within the plot that have a gap of 4 = <149.4 days; 44.2% half a meter between plants. These plants 5 = >149.3 days; 7.2% should be disregarded in taking the data. avg. = 136.7 days, std = In addition, there are few farmer fields that 10.3 dry down uniformly because of varying soils and moisture. There is a certain amount of green that can be combined and still attain the proper moisture. The amount of green allowable is also dependent on the humidity at the day of combining—the lower the humidity the higher the amount of allowable green. COMMENTS: This date is the most variable in the number of days that define the phenology of sesame because weather is so important. In dry years with little rainfall, the plants will run out of moisture sooner and will dry down faster than in years with more rainfall. Fields that are irrigated by pivots will generally dry down faster than fields with flood or furrow irrigation because pivots do not provide deep moisture. Fields with less fertility will drydown faster than fields with high fertility. Fields with high populations will dry down faster than fields with low populations. In low moisture situations lines with a strong taproot will dry down later than lines with mostly shallow fibrous roots. (31) LODGING S33 = 7.7 The data is taken after physiological RESISTANCE (Uvalde nursery 2007), maturity (see DAYS TO PHYSIOLOGICAL The amount of lodging S33 = 8.0 MATURITY—Character No. 29) and (Lorenzo nursery, 2007) before direct harvest (see DAYS TO Average of a minimum of DIRECT HARVEST—Character No. 30). three plots of a subjective Lodging that occurs after direct harvest in rating based on the nurseries would not be a factor in following values: commercial sesame. 0 to 8 rating There are three types of lodging: where 8 = no lodging the plants break at the stem, where the 7 = Less than 5% of plants plants bend over but do not break, and lodged where the plants uproot and bend over. 4 = 50 % of plants lodged When a plant breaks over, it will rarely 1 = All plants lodged produce any new seed, and the existing Intermediate values are seed may or may not mature. If there is a used. total break, there is no hope, but if there is Distribution within Sesaco still some active stem translocation based on lines in Uvalde through the break, there can be some yield and Lorenzo nurseries in recovery. The main causes for uprooting 2007 of plants are shallow root systems and (Total number of samples fields that have just been irrigated, creating tested = 1061) a soft layer of soil. When a plant bends low = 1.0; high = 8.0 over early in development, some lines 1 = <2.4; 3.1% adapt better than others in terms of having 2 = <3.8; 6.9% the main stems turn up and continue 3 = <5.2; 22.6% flowering. The tips of the branches are 4 = <6.6; 18.9% usually matted under the canopy and will 5 = >8.0; 48.4% rarely turn up, but new branches can avg. = 6.1, std = 1.7 develop. As the plants go to drydown and the weight of the moisture is lost, many of the bent plants will straighten up making the crop easier to combine. COMMENTS: The major cause of lodging is the wind. In areas where there are constant winds such as in Oklahoma and northern Texas, the plants adjust by adding more lignins to the stems and it takes a stronger wind to cause lodging than in areas such as Uvalde where there normally only breezes unless there is a strong front or thunderstorm that passes through. In areas with more root rots, the stems are weak and it takes little wind to lodge the plants. (32) SEED COLOR S33 = BF This data is taken in the laboratory with The color of the seed (All crops, all nurseries) the same lighting for all samples. The seed coat Subjective rating based on from the whole plant is used. the following values: Seed coat color is taken on mature WH = White seeds. If there is any abnormal BF = Buff termination, the colors are not quite as TN = Tan even. The color of immature seed varies. LBR = Light brown Usually light seeded lines have tan to light GO = Gold brown immature seed; tan, light brown, LGR = Light gray gold, brown, light gray, and gray lines have GR = Gray lighter immature seed; black lines can BR = Brown have tan, brown, or gray immature seed. RBR = Reddish brown Usually, moisture, fertility, population BL = Black and light intensity do not have an effect on Distribution within Sesaco seed coat color. Light colored seeds in a based on seed harvested drought may have a yellowish tinge. Seeds in all nurseries in 1982- in some lines in the tan, light brown and 2001 (Total number of old range can change from year to year samples tested = 161,809) among themselves. WH = 0.8% BF = 74.8% TN = 9.0% LBR = 1.4% GO = 1.5% LGR = 0.6% GR = 1.4% BR = 6.5% RBR = 0.6% BL = 3.5% (33) SEED WEIGHT— S33 = 0.294 g See CAPSULE LENGTH FROM 10CAP 100 SEEDS FROM (All experimental TEST (Character No. 17) for collection of 10cap TEST nurseries, 1997-2010) capsules. Weight of 100 seeds Value based on the Count out 100 seeds and weigh. The taken from the 10cap average of a minimum of seed must be dry. tests which are taken three samples of theweight COMMENTS: the weight increases from the middle of the of 100 seeds from the 10 with higher moisture/fertility. Generally, plant. capsules (unit of weight: the weight of the seed from the whole plant grams) is lighter than the seed weight taken from Distribution within Sesaco the 10cap test. based on stable lines in all nurseries in 1997-2002 (Total number of lines tested = 820 with 2,899 samples) low = 0.200 g; high = 0.455 g 1 = <0..251 g; 10.1% 2 = <0.302 g; 48.4% 3 = <0.353 g; 34.0% 4 = <0.404 g; 7.2% 5 = >0.403 g; 0.2% avg. = 0.298 g, std = 0.04 (34) COMPOSITE KILL S33 = 6.7 On the week a plot reaches PM, a RESISTANCE (Uvalde nursery, 2010) rating is assigned. The ratings are then The amount of plants Average of a minimum of taken for 2 additional weeks. The three killed by root rots in the three plots of a subjective ratings are averaged for a final kill rating. Sesaco nurseries rating based on the For example, if a plot has a final kill of 766, following values: Ratings the average for the plot will be 6.33. When a value of 1 or 2 is assigned, there are no are based on the number additional ratings and there is no of plants killed in a plot. averaging. Before physiological There are three root diseases that affect maturity (PM), the sesame in Texas: Fusarium oxysporum, following ratings are used: Macrophomina phaseoli, and Phytophtora 1 = >90% kill before DAYS parasitica. Between 1988 and the present, TO FLOWERING spores of these three have been TERMINATION (Character accumulated in one small area (1 square No. 28) km) north of Uvalde, and thus it is an 2 = >90% kill between excellent screening area for the diseases. DAYS TO FLOWERING Although each root rot attacks sesame in a TERMINATION (Character different way with different symptoms, no No. 28) and DAYS TO effort is made to differentiate which PHYSIOLOGICAL disease is the culprit in each plot. MATURITY (Character No. Pathological screenings in the past have 29) found all 3 pathogens present in dead After PM, the following plants. ratings are used: COMMENTS: normally, the ratings will 3 = >90% kill decrease a maximum of one value per 4 = 50 to 89% kill week. There is an overlap between any 5 = 25 to 49% kill two ratings, but this is overcome to a 6 = 10 to 24% kill certain extent by using three ratings over 2 7 = less than 10% kill weeks. 8 = no kill The amount of kill is usually increased Distribution within Sesaco with any type of stress to the plants. based on lines in Uvalde Drought can increase the amount of nursery in 2000-2001 Macrophomina; too much water can (Total number of samples increase the amount of Phytophtora; high tested = 3045) temperatures and humidity can increase low = 1.00; high = 8.00 the amount of Fusarium and Phytophtora. 1 = <1.6; 1.7% High population can increase all three 2 = <3.2; 16.7% diseases. 3 = <4.8; 38.7% The ratings for any one year can be 4 = <6.4; 31.2% used to compare lines grown in that year, 5 = >6.3; 11.6% but should not be used to compare lines avg. = 4.52, std = 1.49 grown in different years. The amount of disease in any one year is highly dependent on moisture, humidity, and temperatures. Character Rating Methodology (35) RESISTANCE TO S33 = NT Ratings can be done in several ways: FUSARIUM WILT (F. Average of a minimum of 1. Take ratings after the disease is no oxysporum) three plots of a subjective longer increasing Amount of resistance to rating based on the 2. Take ratings on consecutive weeks Fusarium wilt following values: until disease is no longer increasing and 0 to 8 scale of the average ratings. of infected plants 3. Take periodic ratings and average 8 = Zero disease ratings. 7 = <10% infected COMMENTS: Fusarium has been a 4 = 50% infected problem in South Texas, particularly on 1 = >90% infected fields that have been planted with sesame 0 = all infected before. Normally, only the COMPOSITE Intermediate values are KILL RESISTANCE (Character No. 34) used. rating is taken. NT = not tested NEC = no economic damage—not enough disease to do ratings (36) RESISTANCE TO S33 = NT See Methodology for RESISTANCE TO PHYTOPHTORA STEM Subjective rating FUSARIUM WILT (Character No. 35) ROT (P. parasitica) See Values for Fusarium COMMENTS: Phytophtora has been a Amount of resistance to problem in Arizona and Texas, particularly Phytophtora stem rot on fields that have been over-irrigated. Normally, only the COMPOSITE KILL RESISTANCE (Character No. 34) rating is taken. (37) RESISTANCE TO S33 = NT See Methodology for RESISTANCE TO CHARCOAL ROT Subjective rating FUSARIUM WILT (Character No. 35) (Macrophomina See Values for Fusarium COMMENTS: Macrophomina has been phaseoli) a problem in Arizona and Texas, Amount of resistance to particularly on fields that go into a drought. Charcoal rot Normally, only the COMPOSITE KILL RESISTANCE (Character No. 34) rating is taken. (38) RESISTANCE TO S33 = 5.9 See Methodology for RESISTANCE TO BACTERIAL BLACK (Lorenzo nursery, 2010) FUSARIUM WILT (Character No. 35) ROT (Pseudomonas Average of a minimum of COMMENTS: this disease occurs sesami) three plots of a subjective occasionally when there is continual rainy Amount of resistance to rating based on the weather with few clouds. In most years, bacterial black rot following values: the disease abates once the weather 0 to 8 scale of the changes. No economic damage has been % of infected plants noticed. 8 = Zero disease 7 = <10% infected 4 = 50% infected 1 = >90% infected 0 = all infected Intermediate values are used. NT = not tested NEC = no economic damage—not enough disease to do ratings Distribution within Sesaco based on lines in Uvalde nursery in 2004 (Total number of samples tested = 593) low = 4.00; high = 8.00 1 = <2.4; 0.0% 2 = <3.8; 0.0% 3 = <5.2; 8.6% 4 = <6.6; 16.0% 5 = >6.5; 75.4% avg. = 7.13, std = 1.00 (39) RESISTANCE TO S33 = NEC Ratings can be done in several ways: SILVERLEAF (Uvalde nursery, 2006) 1. Take ratings after the insects are no WHITEFLY (Bemisia Average of a minimum of longer increasing. argentifolii) three plots of a subjective 2. Take ratings on consecutive weeks Amount of resistance to rating based on the until insects are no longer increasing and the silverleaf whitefly following values: average ratings. 0 to 8 scale of the 3. Take periodic ratings and average of infected plants ratings. Character COMMENTS: there have been very 0 to 8 scale Rating Methodology 8 = Zero insects few years (1991-1995) where the 7 = Few insects incidence of silverleaf whitefly has affected 4 = Many insects nurseries or commercial crops. In most 1 = Insects killing the years, a few whiteflies can be seen in the plants sesame with no economic damage. Intermediate values are In the middle 1990s, the USDA began used. introducing natural predators of the NT = not tested silverleaf whitefly in the Uvalde area. It is NEC = no economic not known if the predators reduced the damage—not enough effects of the whitefly or there is a natural insects to do ratings tolerance to whitefly in the current varieties. Higher temperatures decrease the number of days between generations. There are indications that higher moisture and fertility increase the incidence of whiteflies, but there is no definitive data. The sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) has been observed in nurseries since 1978 without any economic damage. (40) RESISTANCE TO S33 = NT See Methodology for RESISTANCE TO GREEN PEACH Subjective rating ; see SILVERLEAF WHITEFLY (Character No. APHIDS (Myzus Values for Whitefly 39) persicae) Distribution within Sesaco COMMENTS: there have been very Amount of resistance to based on lines in Uvalde few years (1990-1995) where the the green peach aphid nursery in 2004 incidence of green peach aphid has (Total number of samples affected nurseries or commercial crops. In tested = 412) most years, a few aphids can be seen in low = 1.00; high = 8.00 the sesame with no economic damage. 1 = <2.4; 1.0% There have been many years in West 2 = <3.8; 0.5% Texas when the cotton aphid has 3 = <5.2; 10.7% decimated the cotton and did not build up 4 = <6.6; 4.8% on adjacent sesame fields. 5 = >6.5; 83.0% Higher moisture and fertility increase avg. = 7.04, std = 1.35 the susceptibility to aphids. (41) RESISTANCE TO S33 = NT See Methodology for RESISTANCE TO POD BORERS Subjective rating; see SILVERLEAF WHITEFLY (Character No. (Heliothis spp.) Values for Whitefly 39) Amount of resistance to COMMENTS: there have been very pod borers few years (1985) where the incidence of Heliothis has affected nurseries or commercial crops. In most years, a few borers can be seen in the sesame with no economic damage. (42) RESISTANCE TO S33 = NT See Methodology for RESISTANCE TO ARMY WORMS Subjective rating; see SILVERLEAF WHITEFLY (Character No. (Spodoptera spp.) Values for Whitefly 39) Amount of resistance to COMMENTS: there have been very army worms few years (1984-1987) where the incidence of Spodoptera has affected commercial crops in Arizona. In Texas, army worms have decimated cotton and alfalfa fields next to sesame without any damage to the sesame. It is not known if the Arizona army worm is different from the Texas army worm. (43) RESISTANCE TO S33 = NT See Methodology for RESISTANCE TO CABBAGE LOOPERS ( Lorenzo nursery 2007) SILVERLEAF WHITEFLY (Character No. (Pieris rapae) Subjective rating ; see 39) Amount of resistance to values for Whitefly COMMENTS: there have been very cabbage loopers few years (1992-1993) where the incidence of cabbage loopers has affected nurseries. In commercial sesame, cabbage loopers have been observed with no economic damage. (44) PRESENCE OF S33 = PY/PY In the homogygous condition. the pygmy PYGMY ALLELES (All crops; all nurseries) allele (py) reduces the HEIGHT OF THE The pygmy allele is a py/py = homozygous PLANT (Character No. 5), the HEIGHT OF new recessive gene pygmy alleles THE FIRST CAPSULE (Character No. 6), that affects the growth PY/py = heterozygous and the AVERAGE INTERNODE LENGTH of the sesame plant. pygmy alleles WITHIN CAPSULE ZONE (Character No. PY/PY = normal (no Distribution within Sesaco 9). In the heterozygous state, there are no pygmy alleles) based on stable lines in reductions in the characters. In a cross the collection as of 2009 between a homozygous pygmy and a (Total number of lines = normal, the pygmy allele is a recessive 40,715) gene that will not show the shorter heights py/py = 145 and internode lengths until segregating in PY/py = 629 the F2 generation, with no intermediates Normal = 39,941 between the pygmy and the normal line. A homozygous pygmy selected in the F2, from the F3 generation on is pure in its effects on the three characters. Within pygmy lines there are differences in the 3 characters, but all of the pygmies differ from the normal lines. The name “pygmy” was chosen because these lines are shorter than dwarf lines that have been in the world germplasm for many years. The dwarf lines share the same three characters, but there are intermediates in the F2 generation and rarely any plants as short as the original dwarf. ^(a.)Uvalde nursery planted north of Uvalde, Texas (latitude 29°22″ north, longitude 99°47′ west, 226 m elev) in middle to late May to early June from 1988 to the present; mean rainfall is 608 mm annually with a mean of 253 mm during the growing season; temperatures range from an average low of 3° C. and an average high of 17° C. in January to an average low of 22° C. and an average high of 37° C. in July. The nursery was planted on 96 cm beds from 1988 to 1997 and on 76 cm beds from 1998 to the present. The nursery was pre-irrigated and has had 2-3 post-plant irrigations depending on rainfall. The fertility has varied from 30-60 units of nitrogen. ^(b)Lorenzo nursery planted southeast of Lubbock, Texas (latitude 33°40′ north, longitude 101°49′ west, 1000 m elev) in mid-June from 2004 to the present; mean rainfall is 483 mm annually with a mean of 320 mm during the growing season; temperatures range from an average low of −4° C. and an average high of 11° C. in January to an average low of 20° C. and an average high of 33° C. in July. The nursery was planted on 101 cm beds. The nursery was rainfed. The fertility was 30 units of nitrogen.

In developing sesame varieties for the United States, there are seven characters that are desirable for successful crops: SHAKER SHATTER RESISTANCE (Character No. 23), IMPROVED NON-DEHISCENT VISUAL RATING (Character No. 26), COMPOSITE KILL RESISTANCE (Character No. 35), DAYS TO PHYSIOLOGICAL MATURITY (Character No. 30), YIELD AT DRYDOWN (Character 11), SEED COLOR (Character No. 33), and SEED WEIGHT—100 SEEDS FROM 10CAP TEST (Character No. 34). The first four characters contribute to YIELD AT DRYDOWN which is the most important economic factor normally considered by a farmer in the selection of a variety. The last two characters determine the market value of the seed.

SHAKER SHATTER RESISTANCE and IMPROVED NON-DEHISCENT VISUAL RATING determine how well the plants will retain the seed while they are drying down in adverse weather.

COMPOSITE KILL RESISTANCE determines whether the plants can finish their cycle and have the optimum seed fill.

DAYS TO PHYSIOLOGICAL MATURITY determines how far north and to which elevation the varieties can be grown.

In improving the characters, the YIELD AT DRYDOWN has to be comparable to or better than current varieties, or provide a beneficial improvement for a particular geographical or market niche.

In the United States and Europe, the SEED COLOR is important since over 95% of the market requires white or buff seed. There are limited markets for gold and black seed in the Far East. All other colors can only be used in the oil market.

SEED WEIGHT—100 SEEDS FROM 10CAP TEST determines the market for the seed. Lack of COMPOSITE KILL RESISTANCE can reduce SEED WEIGHT—100 SEEDS FROM 10CAP TEST. In parts of the United States where there is little rain in dry years, the lack of moisture can reduce the SEED WEIGHT—100 SEEDS FROM 10CAP TEST.

There are other characters important in developing commercial sesame varieties explained in Langham, D. R. and T. Wiemers, 2002. “Progress in mechanizing sesame in the US through breeding”, In: J. Janick and A. Whipkey (ed.), Trends in new crops and new uses, ASHS Press, Alexandria, Va. BRANCHING STYLE (Character No. 1), HEIGHT OF PLANT (Character No. 5) and HEIGHT OF FIRST CAPSULE (Character No. 6) are important in combining. CAPSULE ZONE LENGTH (Character No. 7), NUMBER OF CAPSULE NODES (Character No. 8), AVERAGE INTERNODE LENGTH WITHIN CAPSULE ZONE (Character No. 9), and SEED WEIGHT PER CAPSULE (Character No. 18) are important in creating potential YIELD AT DRYDOWN (Character No. 10). LEAF DIMENSIONS (Characters No. 12, 13, 14, and 15) are important in determining optimum populations.

NUMBER OF CAPSULES PER LEAF AXIL (Character No. 2), NUMBER OF CARPELS PER CAPSULE (Character No. 16), CAPSULE LENGTH (Character No. 17), CAPSULE WEIGHT PER CAPSULE (Character No. 19), and CAPSULE WEIGHT PER CM OF CAPSULE (Character No. 20) are important in breeding for VISUAL SEED RETENTION (Character No. 21) and IMPROVED NON-DEHISCENT VISUAL RATING (Character No. 25) which lead to testing for SHAKER SHATTER RESISTANCE (Character No. 22) and determining the CAPSULE SHATTERING TYPE (Character No. 23), NON-DEHISCENT TEST (Character 24) and IMPROVED NON-DEHISCENT TEST (Character No. 26).

DAYS TO FLOWERING (Character No. 27), DAYS TO FLOWER TERMINATION (Character No. 28), DAYS TO PHYSIOLOGICAL MATURITY (Character No. 29) and MATURITY CLASS (Character No. 3) are highly correlated and important in determining the phenology and geographical range for the variety.

DAYS TO DIRECT HARVEST (Character No. 30) is important in that once the plants reach physiological maturity there is no weather event that will increase yield and many weather events that may substantially lower the yield. A shorter drying phase increases yield. PLANT PHENOTYPE (Character No. 4) is a summary character of characters 1, 2, and 3 that allows an overall visualization of the line.

RESISTANCE TO DROUGHT (Character No. 11) may reduce yield and seed weight. Even though there was a drought in the growing areas in 2006, there has not been a drought in nurseries planted since 2000 because of irrigation. LODGING RESISTANCE (Character No. 31) is important in years when there are high winds in the growing areas. The resistance characters (Characters No. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, and 43) are important in reducing the losses from diseases and pests.

Over the past 33 years, Sesaco has tested 2,966 introductions from all over the world. Commercial samples have been obtained from China, India, Sudan, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Mozambique, Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Egypt, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Thailand, Turkey, Upper Volta, Uganda, Mali, Kenya, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Philippines, Colombia, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Somalia, Eritrea, Paraguay, Bolivia, and El Salvador. Additional research seed has been received from the commercial countries and from many other countries such as Australia, Iraq, Iran, Japan, Russia, Jordan, Yemen, Syria, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Angola, Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Gabon, Greece, Italy, South Korea, Libya, Nepal, Zaire, England and Tanzania. Research seed received from one country may have originated from another unspecified country. All of the commercial and research introductions have CAPSULE SHATTERING TYPE (Character No. 23) of shattering, “SHA”.

Using selected characters from Table II, Table III provides a character differentiation between S33 and name cultivars from all over the world.

TABLE III Character Differentiation of Various Sesame Varieties^(a) Character Rating Name cultivars tested by Sesaco CAPSULE SHATTERING SHA Eliminate the following from the world: TYPE From Venezuela: Venezuela 51, Venezuela (Character No. 23) 52, Guacara, Aceitera, Inamar, Acarigua, Morada, Capsula Larga, Arawaca, Piritu, Glauca, Turen, DV9, Fonucla, UCLA From Mexico: Pachequeno, Yori, Anna, Teras, Denisse, Canasta, Tehvantepeter From India: TMV1, TMV3 From Turkey: Ozberk, Muganli, Gamdibi, Marmara From Israel: DT45 From Guatemala: R198, R30 From Paraguay: Escoba and INIA. From Texas: Llano, Margo, Dulce, Blanco, Paloma, Oro, Renner 1 and 2, Early Russian From California: UCR3, UCR4, Eva, Calinda (Cal Beauty) From Thailand: KU18 From Korea: Danback, Gwansan, Pungyiong, Suweon, Yuseong, Hanseon, Ahnsan, Kwangsan, Jinback, Pungsan, Sodan, Yangheuk, Konheuk, Whaheuck, Sungboon SSH Eliminate from Sesaco: S02, S03, S04, S05, S06, S07, S08, S09, S10, S12, S14 ID Eliminate the following from the world: From Venezuela: G2, Morada id From Texas: Rio, Delco, Baco, Improved Baco, Roy, Eli From South Carolina: Palmetto From California: UCR234 From Sesaco: S01 SR All others, go to NON-DEHISCENT TEST NON-DEHISCENT TEST XX Eliminate from Sesaco: S11, S15, S16, S17, (Character No. 24) S18, S19, S20, S21 ND All others to the SEED COLOR SEED COLOR (Character No. BL Eliminate from Sesaco: S55 32) BF All others to the IMPROVEDNON- DEHISCENT TEST IMPROVED NON-DEHISCENT ZZ Eliminate from Sesaco: 11W, 19A, S22, S23, TEST (Character No. 26) S24, S25, S26, S28, S29, (all of these lines and varieties have been disclosed in previous patents, and there are no lines or varieties that are not included.) IND go to the BRANCHING STYLE BRANCHING STYLE U Eliminate from Sesaco: S30 (Character No. 1) B From Sesaco: S32, S27, S33, S70 go to PRESENCE OF PYGMY ALLELES PRESENCE OF PYGMY py/py Eliminate from Sesaco: S70 ALLELES (Character No. 44) PY/PY From Sesaco: S27, S32 and S33, go to Table IV ^(a)SHA = shattering; SSH = semi-shattering; ID = indehiscent; SR = shatter resistant; XX = not non-dehiscent according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,452; ND = non-dehiscent according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,452; IND = improved non-dehiscent according to the teachings of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/041,257, U = unbranched; B = branched

As a comparison to the S33 variety, another Improved Non-dehiscent (IND) sesame cultivar, S32, is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/041,205, filed Mar. 3, 2008. S32 is a stable, commercially suitable sesame line providing improved non-dehiscence.

As a further comparison to the S33 variety, another Improved Non-dehiscent (IND) variety S27 is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/533,972, filed Jul. 31, 2009. S27 is a stable, commercially suitable sesame line providing improved non-dehiscence.

Table III differentiates S33 from all other cultivars and varieties except S27 and S32. Table IV provides additional data that separates S33 from S27 and S32.

TABLE IV Character Comparison of S33 to S27 and S32 No. Character Year/nursery S27 S32 S33 5 HEIGHT OF PLANT (cm) 2010 UV 152 171 158 22 SHAKER SHATTER 1997-2010 73.4 73.8 83.2 RESISTANCE 25 IMPROVED NON-DEHISCENT 2010 UV 7.2 7.0 7.5 VISUAL RATING 2010 LO 7.1 7.2 7.5 31 LODGING RESISTANCE 2007 UV 7.7 6.2 8.0 2007 LO 8.0 7.1 8.0 34 COMPOSITE KILL RESISTANCE 2010 UV 5.6 5.8 6.7

S33 is not quite as short in plant height, has higher shaker shatter resistance, has higher improved non-dehiscent visual rating, has slightly better lodging resistance, and has a better composite kill resistance than S27. S33 is shorter in plant height, has higher shaker shatter resistance, has higher improved non-dehiscent visual rating, has better lodging resistance, and has a better kill resistance than S32.

Table V shows all the characters from Table II for S33 and varieties S26, S27, S28, S30, and S32. The table is in terms of all of the characters listed in Table II. The major differences in Table V are indicated in the “Dif” column by a “C” for commercially important differences and an “M” for morphological differences.

TABLE V Character Comparison of S26, S27, S28, S30, S32, and S33^(a) No. Character Year/nursery S26 S27 S28 S30 S32 S33 Dif 1 Branching Style All B B B U B B 2 Number of Capsules per Leaf All 1 1 1 1 1 1 Axil 3 Maturity Class Adjusted PM 98 95 98 100 99 99 2005-2008 UV M M M M M M 4 Plant Phenotype All B1M B1M B1M U1M B1M B1M 5 Height of Plant (cm) 2010 UV 162 152 152 171 171 158 6 Height of First Capsule (cm) 2010 UV 49 34 46 46 49 49 7 Capsule Zone Length (cm) 2010 UV 113 118 106 125 122 109 8 Number of Capsule Node 2010 UV 36 37 37 40 39 36 pairs 9 Average Internode Length 2010 UV 3.1 3.2 2.9 3.2 3.2 3.1 within Capsule Zone (cm) 10 Yield at Drydown (kg/ha) 2010 UV 1401 1116 1438 1379 1244 1260 C 11 Resistance to Drought 2000 SA Good NT Good NT NT NT 12 Leaf Length (cm) 5^(th)-2008 UV 28.1 22.1 23.0 16.3 25.5 19.8 M 10^(th)-2008 UV 22.3 19.0 18.0 18.5 18.3 15.7 M 15^(th)-2008 UV 15.9 12.7 13.7 15.0 14.1 11.1 M 13 Leaf Blade Length (cm) 5^(th)-2008 UV 16.6 13.0 13.8 10.7 14.8 11.7 M 10^(th)-2008 UV 16.8 15.8 14.4 14.3 14.7 12.8 M 15^(th)-2008 UV 13.3 11.0 11.5 12.5 12.2 10.3 M 14 Leaf Blade Width (cm) 5^(th)-2008 UV 23.0 13.1 18.0 10.5 13.8 11.7 M 10^(th)-2008 UV 5.4 3.6 3.6 3.0 3.0 1.9 M 15^(th)-2008 UV 2.6 2.1 2.0 2.0 1.6 1.2 M 15 Petiole Length (cm) 5^(th)-2008 UV 11.5 9.1 9.2 5.6 10.7 8.1 M 10^(th)-2008 UV 5.5 3.2 3.6 4.2 3.6 2.9 M 15^(th)-2008 UV 2.6 1.7 2.3 2.4 2.0 1.8 M 16 Number of Carpels per All 2 2 2 2 2 2 Capsule 17 Capsule Length (cm) 1997-2010 All 2.26 2.18 2.27 2.26 2.14 2.10 18 Seed Weight per Capsule (g) 1997-2010 All 0.232 0.212 0.227 0.258 0.220 0.202 19 Capsule Weight per Capsule 1997-2010 All 0.163 0.133 0.162 0.169 0.148 0.138 (g) 20 Capsule Weight per cm of 1997-2010 All 0.072 0.061 0.071 0.075 0.069 0.065 Capsule (g) 21 Visual Shatter Resistance All W I W I I I 22 Shaker Shatter Resistance 1997-2010 All 72.7 73.4 74.7 76.0 73.8 83.2 C (%) 23 Capsule Shattering Type All SR SR SR SR SR SR 24 Non-dehiscent Test All ND ND ND ND ND ND 25 Improved Non-dehiscent 2010 UV 6.5 7.2 6.2 7.2 7.0 7.5 C visual rating 2010 LO 6.3 7.1 6.3 7.4 7.2 7.5 C 26 Improved Non-dehiscent Test All ZZ IND ZZ IND IND IND 27 Days to Flowering 2010 UV 43 39 43 36 38 39 28 Days to Flower Termination 2010 UV 89 91 89 92 93 88 29 Days to Physiological 2010 UV 109 106 109 111 111 110 C Maturity 2006/07/08/10 106 102 106 103 104 103 C UV mean 30 Days to Direct Harvest 2010 UV 141 151 143 153 146 156 31 Lodging Resistance 2007 UV 6.6 7.7 7.1 7.3 6.2 8.0 C 2007 LO 5.0 8.0 5.3 7.9 7.1 8.0 C 32 Seed Color All BF BF BF BF BF BF C 33 Seed Weight-100 Seeds 1997-2010 All 0.330 0.316 0.330 0.319 0.313 0.294 C from 10 cap test (g) 34 Composite Kill Resistance 2010 UV 6.1 5.6 6.0 6.3 5.8 6.7 C 35 Resistance to Fusarium Wilt NT NT NT NT NT NT (F. oxysporum) 36 Resistance to Phytophtora NT NT NT NT NT NT Stem Rot (P. parasitica) 37 Resistance to Charcoal Rot NT NT NT NT NT NT (Macrophomina phaseoli) 38 Resistance to Bacterial Black 2010L0 5.8 5.6 6.0 6.3 7.0 5.9 Rot (Pseudomonas sesami) 39 Resistance to Silverleaf 2007 UV NEC NEC NEC NEC NEC NEC Whitefly (Bemisia argentifolii) 40 Resistance to Green Peach 2004 UV 8.0 NT 7.9 8.0 5.5 NT Aphid (Myzus persica) 41 Resistance to Pod Borer 2001 UV NEC NT NT NT NT NT (Heliothis spp.) 42 Resistance to Army Worms NT NT NT NT NT NT (Spodoptera spp.) 43 Resistance to Cabbaqe 2007 LO NEC NEC NEC NEC NEC NT Loopers (Pieris rapae) ^(a)B = true branches; U = uniculm (no true branches); UV = Uvalde nursery; M = medium maturity class of 95-104 days; B1M = phenotype of true branches, single capsules per leaf axil, and medium maturity class of 95-104 days; U1M = phenotype of uniculm, single capsules per leaf axil, and medium maturity class of 95-104 days; LO = Lorenzo nursery; NT = not tested; W = weather visual seed retention >75%; SR = shatter resistant; ND = non-dehiscent; ZZ = not improved non-dehiscent; IND = improved non-dehiscent; BF = buff color; and NEC = no economic damage—not enough disease or insects to do ratings.

As stated earlier, in developing sesame varieties for the United States, there are seven important characters: SHAKER SHATTER RESISTANCE (Character No. 22), IMPROVED NON-DEHISCENT VISUAL RATING (Character No. 25), COMPOSITE KILL RESISTANCE (Character No. 34), DAYS TO PHYSIOLOGICAL MATURITY (Character No. 29), YIELD AT DRYDOWN (Character No. 10), SEED COLOR (Character No. 32), and SEED WEIGHT—100 SEEDS FROM 10CAP TEST (Character No. 33). These characters will be discussed first comparing S33 to Sesaco varieties (S26, S27, S28, S30, and S32), followed by other characters that differentiate S33. The data is based on planting the varieties side by side with four replications in Uvalde and two in Lorenzo.

FIG. 2 provides the SHAKER SHATTER RESISTANCE (Character No. 22) of the patented varieties using data from 1997 through 2010. SHAKER SHATTER RESISTANCE represents the amount of seed that is retained by the plant several months after being dry in the field. This standard was developed as a minimum standard in 1997-1998 and has proven to be a good predictor of shatter resistance. All varieties have SHAKER SHATTER RESISTANCE in the low to mid seventy percent level. S33 has 83.2% which is above the 65% threshold established in U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,452 to qualify S33 as a non-dehiscent variety.

FIG. 3 provides the IMPROVED NON-DEHISCENT VISUAL RATING (Character No. 25) of the patented varieties using data from the 2010Uvalde and Lorenzo nurseries. When the plants have reached DAYS TO DIRECT HARVEST (Character No. 30), the plants are holding more than the seed represented by the SHAKER SHATTER RESISTANCE percentage. If there is no rain, fog, dew, or wind during the drying phase, the non-dehiscent plants will be retaining almost all of their seed for the combine. However, the predominant weather in the harvest season in the U.S. includes rain, fog, dew, and wind. The IMPROVED NON-DEHISCENT VISUAL RATING sets a new benchmark for selecting varieties based on a rating done 4 weeks after DAYS TO DIRECT HARVEST (the ideal harvest time). S33 has a rating of 7.5 in both Uvalde and Lorenzo which is above the 7.0 threshold established in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/041,205, filed 3 Mar. 2008 to qualify S33 as an improved non-dehiscent variety.

FIG. 4 provides the COMPOSITE KILL RESISTANCE (Character No. 34) of the patented varieties in the 2010 Uvalde nursery. COMPOSITE KILL RESISTANCE is a composite rating of resistance to three root rots: Fusarium, Phytophtora, and Macrophomina. In most years, Fusarium is the major cause of kill. When sesame is first introduced into a growing area, there are few disease problems, but over time the spores of these fungi accumulate and disease resistance becomes important. When sesame was first introduced in Uvalde in 1988, the yields were high. As farmers planted on the same fields in subsequent years, the yields decreased. S33 with a rating of 6.7 in Uvalde in 2010 is an improvement over the other patented commercial varieties. Any rating above 5.67 indicates that over 90% of the plants produced good seed to the top of the plant.

FIG. 5 provides the mean DAYS TO PHYSIOLOGICAL MATURITY (Character No. 29) of the patented varieties in the 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010 Uvalde nursery. In the United States, sesame is currently grown from South Texas to Central Kansas. The growing window of a crop is determined by the earliest the crop can be planted in the spring as the ground warms up, and the onset of cold weather in the fall. Current sesame varieties require about 21° C. ground temperature to establish an adequate population. In most years, the ground is warm enough in South Texas in middle April and in Central Kansas in late May. Current sesame varieties require night temperatures above 5° C. for normal termination. In most years, the night temperatures are warm enough in South Texas until middle November and in southern Kansas until middle October. There have been years when cold fronts affect the growth of sesame in the middle of September in the north. East of Lubbock, Tex., the elevations begin climbing towards the Rocky Mountains, and there are later warm temperatures in the spring and earlier cold temperatures in the fall. In all years, if the sesame is planted as early as temperatures allow, lines with DAYS TO PHYSIOLOGICAL MATURITY of 105 days or less will have no problems even in years with an early frost. However, most areas are rainfed, and it is essential to have a planting rain before planting the sesame. Thus, the earlier the DAYS TO PHYSIOLOGICAL MATURITY of the variety, the more flexibility the farmers have with planting date. In South Texas, the goal is to have varieties with a DAYS TO PHYSIOLOGICAL MATURITY of less than 110 days while in southern Kansas the goal is less than 90 days; however, good commercial yields have been grown in Kansas for the past three years using S32. The mean DAYS TO PHYSIOLOGICAL MATURITY for S33 is 103 which allows it to be planted in all of the current sesame growing areas, but may have a problem in an early freeze year if planted late.

FIG. 6 provides the mean YIELD AT DRYDOWN (Character 10) of the patented varieties in Uvalde nursery in 2010. In previous patents, the data for the Lorenzo nursery has been provided, but in 2010 there was glyphosate drift from adjacent cotton fields that was irregular making the data non-usable. In releasing a new variety, another important consideration is whether the yields will be comparable or better than the existing varieties. The yields of S33 are slightly lower than the existing varieties. The yield data is taken close to DAYS TO DIRECT HARVEST (Character No. 30) which is the ideal time to harvest. However, weather in the fall in the sesame growing areas of the U.S. can prevent harvest for up to a month subjecting the crop to rain, fog, dew, and wind. Those four factors increase the shattering, and the wind may bring on lodging. In 2010, at an experimental field of Texas Tech University, S33 out yielded S30 and S32 primarily because of the IMPROVED NON-DEHISCENT VISUAL RATING (Character No. 25) and LODGING RESISTANCE (Character No. 31). FIG. 7 shows the LODGING RESISTANCE in the 2007 Uvalde and Lorenzo nurseries. The lodging resistance of U.S. varieties has improved significantly in the last 33 years and there are only a few years when there is enough wind/lodging to take ratings. In 2004 and in 2007, S33 had the best LODGING RESISTANCE of all of the patented varieties.

The SEED COLOR (Character No. 32) of all of the patented varieties is buff which is suitable for most of the U.S. and world markets.

FIG. 8 provides the mean SEED WEIGHT—100 SEEDS FROM THE 10CAP TEST (Character No. 33) of all direct harvest varieties between 1997 and 2010. Until 2009, when the only commercial sesame hulling plant was closed, the lower threshold for seed size in the U.S. markets was 0.30 g. At this point the major markets are for oil, as an ingredient in a product, and as an unhulled (termed natural) topping on a product S33 seed is much smaller than the other patented varieties. It is suitable for oil and as an ingredient, but is too small for most customers in the natural market.

As can be seen by reviewing the leaf characters in Table V (LEAF LENGTH, LEAF BLADE LENGTH, LEAF BLADE WIDTH, and PETIOLE LENGTH), S33 has smaller leaves than the other varieties. This morphological difference can be used to visually differentiate S33 from the other varieties in side by side planting in the field; however, the commercial significance is not known at this time.

On Jul. 9, 2009, a deposit of at least 2500 seeds of sesame plant S33 was made by Sesaco Corporation under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, and the deposit was given ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591. This deposit will be maintained in the ATCC depository for a period of 30 years or 5 years after the last request or for the enforceable life of the patent, whichever is longer. Should the seeds from the sesame line S33 deposited with the American Type Culture Collection become non-viable, the deposit will be replaced by Sesaco Corporation upon request.

The foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and characters for purposes of clarity and understanding. However, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the invention as limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A seed of sesame variety designated S33, a sample of said seed having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591.
 2. A sesame plant produced by growing the seed of sesame variety S33, a sample of said seed having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591.
 3. Pollen of said sesame plant of claim
 2. 4. A sesame plant having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of sesame variety S33, a sample of the seed of said variety having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591.
 5. A tissue culture of regenerable cells produced from seed of sesame variety S33, a sample of said seed having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591.
 6. A tissue culture of regenerable cells produced from sesame plant S33 produced by growing the seed of sesame variety S33, a sample of said seed having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591.
 7. A sesame plant regenerated from a tissue culture of regenerable cells produced from seed of sesame variety S33, a sample of said seed having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591, wherein said regenerated sesame plant has all the physiological and morphological characteristics of said sesame variety S33.
 8. A sesame plant regenerated from a tissue culture of regenerable cells produced from a sesame plant produced by growing the seed of sesame variety S33, a sample of said seed having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591, wherein said regenerated sesame plant has all the physiological and morphological characteristics of said sesame variety S33.
 9. A method of producing sesame seed, comprising crossing a first parent sesame plant with a second parent sesame plant and harvesting the resultant sesame seed, wherein said first or second parent sesame plant was produced by growing seed of sesame variety S33, a sample of said seed having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-11591. 